Quebec public sector worker strikes: Everything you need to know
Walkouts planned throughout week as negotiations continue to stall
Quebec is gearing up for a week of planned rotating strikes for public-sector workers starting today.
A coalition of Quebec unions is holding strike action over the next week to protest against stalled negotiations with the provincial government, with civil servants, health-care professionals and teachers all set to walk off the job.
Unionized workers will strike in different regions on different dates throughout this week, with a total of as many as six days of strikes planned in coming weeks – culminating with three days of walk-outs on Dec. 1, 2 and 3.
- Common front of unions releases details, strike dates
- Quebec teacher strikes: Dates and demands
- Montreal's largest French school board announces two strike days
Here's a breakdown of planned strike dates for school boards:
- Lester B. Pearson School Board and the English Montreal School Board teachers will be on strike Oct. 29, as well as Nov. 16 and 17 and on Dec. 1, 2 and 3, if the impasse in negotiations continues. Support staff have also voted in favour of two rotating strike days, starting with one on Nov. 4.
- Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board teachers have opted to strike on Oct. 26 and on Oct. 29 and will also hold walkouts on Dec.1, 2 and 3 if there is no progress in contract talks before then.
- Teachers at John Abbott College, Dawson College and Vanier College – and all public CEGEPS on the Island of Montreal – have planned strike days for Oct. 29, Nov. 16 and 17 and on Dec. 1, 2 and 3.
- The South Shore's Riverside School Board will have strikes on Oct. 28, Nov. 12 and 13. Teachers will also strike Dec. 1, 2 and 3 if there is no progress in contract talks before that date.
Strikes divided by region
More than 54,000 public-sector employees will be on strike on Monday in the Saguenay–Lac-St-Jean, the Outaouais, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Northern Quebec and in the Laurentians.
On Tuesday, there will be a strike affecting the regions of Quebec, Chaudière-Appalaches, the Bas-Saint-Laurent, the Côte-Nord, the Gaspésie and the Îles-de-la-Madeleine.
The Eastern Townships, the Montérégie, Centre-du-Québec and Mauricie will hold a walkout on Wednesday.
Public-sector workers in Montreal and Laval will not be at work on Thursday.
As per law, essential emergency services will still be offered but non-urgent doctors' appointments could be cancelled. Cafeterias will also likely be closed.
More pressure tactics to come
Barring progress at the negotiating table, strikes are also tentatively scheduled for Nov. 16 and 17 for Montreal.
The Common Front, an umbrella group that represents over 400,000 public-sector workers, also have strike action planned for Dec. 1, 2 and 3.
With files from Presse Canadienne