The Autonomous Education Federation (FAE) is continuing its indefinite general strike this week that began on November 23, being “even more mobilized” than before, says President Mélanie Hubert. For their part, the Common Front and the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ) have not yet announced the next respective walkout dates.
“We don’t necessarily feel isolated [dans notre grève]because we can clearly see that it doesn’t work anywhere in the public network,” says Mme Hubert, who is the head of the union organization bringing together around 66,500 teachers. The latter, just like the FIQ and the 420,000 members represented by the Common Front composed of the CSN, the CSQ, the APTS and the FTQ, formulate an identical observation: “We no longer have the means to offer quality services to the population,” she emphasizes.
Everyone faces similar difficulties at the negotiation tables with Quebec for the renewal of collective agreements, deplores the president of the FAE. She argues that sooner or later, the FIQ and the Common Front “will ask themselves the same questions and will be ready to take the same actions as us”.
Last Thursday’s mobilization in the streets was “exceptional”, believes Mélanie Hubert, in particular because of the support of citizens. “It galvanized everyone. Even the most moderate feel part of an important struggle that could make a difference for the future of public schools in Quebec. That’s the mindset people are in right now. »
Parents should expect the strike to continue throughout the week, says Mme Hubert. “But is an agreement possible? There is nothing impossible when you have the will to do it. We will be available every day,” she adds.
No new dates yet
According to a source familiar with the matter, the Common Front which met this Sunday will not make an announcement for the moment, but only “later this week”. Its members returned to work last Friday, after having walked off the job for three days in a row. Depending on its strike mandate, the inter-union alliance can establish new walkout days or launch an indefinite strike.
For its part, the FIQ set up picket lines Thursday and Friday last week. “We now want to give the negotiation a chance for a few days,” he said. Duty the union organization which brings together 80,000 practical nurses, respiratory therapists and clinical perfusionists.
No new day of strike is therefore announced “for the moment”, argued the Interprofessional Health Federation of Quebec.