Ruby Pratka, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
editor@qctonline.com
Students around the province had an un- scheduled vacation from Dec. 8 to 14 due to a wave of strikes organized by the Front Commun bloc involving more than 420,000 public sector employees across the province, including teachers and support staff in CEGEPS and English-language public schools around the region. Students in French-language public schools in Quebec City, whose teachers are represented by the Fédération autonome de l’enseignement (FAE), have been out of school since Nov. 23, when their teachers began an indefinite general strike.
Both union and government leaders have said they hope to reach agreements to end the strikes before Christmas.
Éric Gingras is the president of the Confédération des syndicats du Québec (CSQ), a member of the Front Commun. The CSQ’s educational arm, the Fédération des syndicats de l’enseignement (FSE) represents teachers at Quebec’s English public schools through its member association, the Quebec Provincial Association of Teachers (QPAT). Gingras said the government has walked back some of its demands in the past week, and the Front Commun has indicated its willingness to accept a longer agreement instead of renegotiating after three years. “We are far from an agreement but we are moving forward,” he said. “The strategy we chose – not going out on an indefinite strike right away – gives us breathing room. Our strike ended [Dec. 14] and we want to negotiate and reach an agreement.”
FAE members rallied in front of Education Minister Bernard Drainville’s office to “denounce the unacceptable and coun- terproductive attitude of the Legault government.” Gingras said Front Commun members would meet Dec. 19 to discuss the movement’s future. In the fall, member unions voted for pressure tactics up to and including a general strike. “I’m an eternal optimist, and I believe a general strike can be avoided. We want to avoid it,” said Gingras. Striking teachers’ major concerns include salary increases, support for early-career teachers and class composition.
Performing arts teacher Tess LeBlanc is the teachers’ union representative at Quebec High School (QHS). “I kind of hoped that after a five-day strike we would be closer to seeing this end, and we may be, but I don’t know,” she said.
“There have been agreements on the smaller points but not on some of the larger points. It’s been a roller-coaster ride.” LeBlanc said she had “fingers and toes crossed” an agreement would be reached before Christmas.
“If the government doesn’t invest in public services, the quality will just keep deteriorating,” added Lisa Birch, a CEGEP Champlain-St. Lawrence professor represented by a CSQ-affiliated union. St. Lawrence teachers and staff participated in the Front Commun strikes. “What they’re offering support staff is ridiculous … schools don’t work without these people, and many of them aren’t making the highest salaries to begin with, and being hit the hardest by inflation. I don’t know why the government isn’t moving on this.”
QPAT members, like FAE members, do not have a strike fund. “I know it hasn’t been easy for a lot of teachers – especially early-career teachers and people in two-teacher households,” said LeBlanc. “Some have had to get part- time work in cafés or tutoring. It’s not easy to go on strike and give up your pay, but we’re doing it because we have valid reasons.” Two other large unions, Unifor-Québec and the Syndicat des Métallos, have clubbed together to raise a combined $170,000 for striking teachers, much of it handed out as grocery gift cards, and at least one local school parents’ committee has also chipped in.
On Dec. 6, about 100 QHS students held a protest in solidarity with their teachers. “That was really commendable and touching,” LeBlanc said, clearly moved. “They’re our future, and they’re the ones standing up for our rights and trying to make a better world.”