A placing Quebec lecturers union mentioned Friday it received’t give in to “emotional blackmail” from the premier after he requested them to return to work for the nice of their college students.
Premier François Legault instructed reporters in Quebec Metropolis that he needs the lecturers to think about the kids who’re being harmed by the strike that’s into its second week.
“What’s taking place now could be unhealthy for our kids,” Legault mentioned on the provincial legislature. “I’ve a tough time residing with the truth that our kids aren’t in class.”
The union, the Fédération autonome de l’enseignement, responded on social media, saying its members are placing to stop the additional deterioration of public faculties — which they are saying is what’s actually hurting kids.
“What’s hurting public faculties is the deterioration of the system which has been exacerbated because you’ve been in energy,” the union wrote in a social media put up addressed to Legault.
The union’s 66,000 members have been on a limiteless strike since Nov. 23, shutting round 800 faculties throughout the province.
As he referred to as on lecturers to desert their strain ways, Legault mentioned he’s already dedicated to bettering the federal government’s wage supply and growing the variety of trainer’s aides. However Legault mentioned he received’t be capable to meet the principle demand of lecturers’ unions – smaller class sizes – as a result of the province doesn’t have sufficient lecturers. Trainer’s aides are being supplied “in alternate,” he mentioned.
There aren’t any plans to legislate the lecturers again to work, Legault mentioned.
“We will’t harm our kids, they’re essentially the most treasured factor we have now,” he mentioned. “We’ve got to cease this strike, it’s going to harm the success of our kids. We already had the pandemic, so this has to cease, please.”
Union leaders have been assembly for a second day Friday to guage the state of their negotiations with the provincial authorities and their choices.
A number of different Quebec public sector unions — together with one representing 95,000 lecturers — have been holding non permanent strikes, with the subsequent one scheduled to happen between Dec. 8 and Dec. 14.
Josée Scalabrini, the president of the opposite lecturers’ union, the Fédération des syndicats de l’enseignement, described Legault’s feedback as very damaging” and “disrespectful.”
“We’ve got a premier who’s making an attempt to make lecturers really feel responsible for demanding extra providers for his or her college students,” she mentioned in an interview.
Scalabrini questioned why, if the premier believes the lecturers’ strike is inflicting issues for college kids, negotiations haven’t taken place for 2 weeks.
“If the strike is inflicting hurt now, why doesn’t the federal government come to the desk?” she requested.
© 2023 The Canadian Press
