The work-to-rule strike practiced since the start of the school year by unionized teachers during this period of negotiations has led them to no longer organize cultural outings for their students. This means of pressure greatly worries the cultural sectors, which report cancellations and reservations which are drying up.
“It’s a massive blow,” says Isabelle Boisclair, general director of the Maison Théâtre. If we add the years of pandemic, a generation of students risks not being in contact with cultural productions. »
Reservations are made in two stages, with a first wave in June and a second in August. La Maison Théâtre de Montréal, which offers 17 productions to school groups for the 2023-2024 season, has recorded only one cancellation (for its 400 seats) so far. But ticket purchases have decreased in recent weeks from schools in Montreal’s three school service centers compared to the start of the 2022 school year.
This is also the case for Les Gros Becs de Québec, which offers around fifteen shows per season for children aged 1 to 17. The broadcaster has sold half of school tickets compared to the same period in 2022. Normally, by September, the company would have already filled four-fifths of its class performances.
Schools affiliated with the Autonomous Education Federation (FAE) now represent only 15% of reservations, which have practically ceased from this source. “We are sympathetic to the cause of teachers,” says Jean-Philippe Joubert, general director and co-artistic director. If the problem lasts three weeks, we will recover. If it persists until Christmas, we will find ourselves with reception capacity limits when we resume. »
Ball in the government’s court
“We are completely aware of that and we find it unfortunate. On the other hand, the ball is in the government’s court, responds Nathalie Gauthier, president of the Outaouais Education Union [SEO]. The sooner it will be resolved [la négociation des conventions collectives]the sooner we can start organizing them again [des sorties culturelles]. »
Members of the FAE, which brings together 9 unions and represents 65,500 teachers, voted to boycott activities that are not directly related to teaching to concentrate on tasks deemed priority, such as planning, teaching or correcting.
We are fully aware of this and we find it unfortunate. On the other hand, the ball is in the government’s court.
On social networks, teachers nevertheless criticize this means of pressure, wishing not to deprive students of access to Quebec culture and worrying about the effects of the pandemic, which has damaged the cultural environment. “Our members are following the slogan, they are very angry,” assures the president of SEO.
“The task of teachers is not a bottomless hole,” adds Nathalie Gauthier. She specifies that the organization of outings “is often done on a voluntary basis”.
“It’s hard to do everything in a day,” she says.
Since 2005, the law requires that student activities be an integral part of the teacher’s task. “If management takes steps to reserve school buses and tickets, and assigns us a time to go to the theater with our students, the teacher will do it,” underlines Catherine Beauvais-St-Pierre, president of the Alliance des professors from Montreal. “Could it be a problem?” Yes, she admits, speaking of pressure tactics. But that’s not the objective. The objective is to fight to have adequate working conditions. »
More fragile links
The concrete repercussions of the boycott through the indirect means of the work-to-rule strike are being felt in cultural organizations. The spokespeople interviewed admit their concern at the prospect of a sharp reduction in school outings while reiterating their support for the demands of teachers, described as essential allies in achieving the school’s cultural mission.
At the Bouches décousues theater in Montreal, which has seven productions broadcast this season, reservations have also stopped since the start of the school year and the company has recorded a cancellation for a performance scheduled for December. “We want to keep our ties strong with teachers, our allies,” says Peggy Allen, general director of the broadcaster. There have been boycotts in the past which have weakened these links. »
For its part, the United Childhood Youth Theater (TUEJ) speaks of a “situation which is not yet a catastrophe, but which worries a lot”, in the words of its general director, Alain Beauchesne. TUEJ represents around fifty specialized companies of which around half of their independent income comes from school trips. TUEJ even wonders which, a short strike or a longer boycott, would be more damaging for the sector. “Better neither one nor the other,” said the director. The situation affects broadcasters, companies, artists, technicians and, in the end, it is the child who is taken hostage. »
The Théâtre Denise-Pelletier (TDP) in Montreal, for its part, affirms that it is not yet subjected to pressure tactics strictly speaking, while remaining in a state of alert. “For the moment, we are continuing with reservations for school groups, but our fear is to see a sudden interruption of these reservations or even cancellations,” Stéphanie Laurin, general director of the TDP, said by email. She fears that groups will not show up for performances.
Asked to comment, the Union of Artists, the largest union in the cultural sector representing actors in particular, indicated that it is too early to comment on the subject. “Discussions are still to be planned with our employer partners as well as with education unions,” wrote the communications team in response to an interview request.