Pressure is mounting for the Autonomous Education Federation, which is on its sixth day of indefinite strike on Thursday. It is the only public sector union organization to have immediately launched an indefinite strike, negotiating alone with Quebec and without giving any prior warning shots in the form of strike days.
The FAE had indicated from the start that it would reassess the situation every week. This is what she is doing this Thursday, since she launched the strike last Thursday. This meeting was already planned, specifies the union organization.
Around 70 representatives from its nine affiliated unions are meeting for at least the whole day to assess the situation. All options remain on the table, assures the union organization.
The FAE did not request conciliation, unlike the common front, which asserts that the arrival on the scene of the conciliator, at its request, created “momentum” at the negotiating tables.
The FAE represents 66,500 teachers at the primary and secondary levels.
The other 95,000 teachers at the primary and secondary levels are members of the CSQ, which is part of the common front. The latter has only been on strike for four days so far. He announced seven more days from December 8 to 14.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Bernard Drainville reiterated Thursday that the decision has not yet been made as to when and how these days without school should be resumed.
Asked if he was able to envisage the FAE strike lasting until the Christmas break, which would result in a month without school for these students, he replied: “unfortunately yes; Do I hope we don’t go there? The answer is yes too.”