Thousands of Quebec teachers go on strike
They demand that wages keep up with inflation.
Some 65,000 teachers in the province of Quebec begin an indefinite strike on Nov. 23. They are part of the union Fédération autonome de l'enseignement, which has been negotiating with the government for almost a year.
Union leaders received a mandate to strike back in September. The start date was set at a union meeting this week. Teachers realize that the strike is likely to hit ordinary citizens — parents and children — but they see no other option.
What are they trying to accomplish?
The reason for the strike is simple — wages are not keeping up with inflation. The provincial government has made several offers to the union, including a 10.3% wage increase over five years and a one-time payment of CA$ 1,000 to each worker in the first year of the contract.
The offer applies to the FAE and hundreds of thousands of other public sector workers whose unions are simultaneously negotiating with the province. However, representatives of the labor unions insist that the government's offer does not cover inflation.
Protest sentiment
Teachers aren't the only ones who will go on strike as early as this month. A group of unions calling itself the "Common Front" has voted in favor of a series of one-day strikes, the first of which will begin on November 6. They will involve workers in the education, health and social care sectors. The four unions of the Common Front have 420,000 public sector workers.
Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé will also hold a two-day strike on Nov. 8 and 9. This union represents about 80,000 nurses, nursing assistants, respiratory therapists and clinical perfusionists.
