Page 9 - Common Front News Today

Leaders of a group of four unions representing 420,000 workers called on Premier François Legault’s government to ramp up negotiations to avoid another walkout

Four Quebec public sector unions representing hundreds of thousands of workers are threatening to launch an unlimited general strike early in the new year if they cant reach a deal with the provincial government.

The Fédération Autonome de lEnseignement (FAE), a union representing 66,000 elementary and high school teachers in Quebec, has rejected the provincial governments latest offer.

Workers in Quebec and the rest of Canada have no interest in being used as cannon fodder to strengthen corporate Canada’s position against its rivals on the global stage.

The four groups that form the Common Front of public sector unions have been meeting separately on Tuesday to take stock of negotiations with Quebec and decide on the continuation of the strike mandate they already have.

Fédération autonome de lenseignement (FAE) president Mélanie Hubert addressed her members in a Facebook video on Friday evening, at around 9 p.m., to advise them that work is continuing in the hope of reaching an agreement with the government on the renewal of the collective agreements.

The Unifor union announced it is donating $70,000 to help striking public sector workers as they negotiate with the Quebec government.

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Premier François Legault believes the province will reach an agreement with teachers by the end of the week, but says talks are at a standstill with the health-care sector. 

CEGEP teachers and support staff are on strike this week as part of the Common Front of unions. The strike means that final exams have been delayed, with some being postponed to 2024. Some students are not happy about this, or that some colleges are opting to hold makeup classes and exams over the holidays.