Quebec schools announce closures as multi-day teachers' strike approaches

Service centres across Quebec have announced that schools and daycares will be closed as of Tuesday due to striking workers — some for an undetermined period.

The Front commun syndical and the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ), which together represent Quebec teachers, school support staff and nurses, will be walking off the job. The Front commun syndical hits the streets from Nov. 21 to 23 and the FIQ Nov. 23 and 24.

This has led many service centres to announce that all activities will be suspended.

Schools and daycare services will be closed, no educational services or extracurricular activities will be offered and school transport will be cancelled.

In addition, as of Nov. 23, the 65,000 primary and secondary school teachers belonging to the Fédération autonome de l'enseignement (FAE) will go on an unlimited general strike. You can read a full list below of school service centres affected.

The FAE comprises nine unions in 12 school service centres across the province including Montreal's largest French language school service centre. 

Parents warned about closures across province

During the strikes, union members will be picketing in front of schools.

"The nature of the teachers' strike is such that it is impossible for us to know where and when picket lines will be set up, which could make it difficult, if not impossible, to access certain locations," reads a letter sent to parents from the Centre de services scolaire de la Capitale, in Quebec City.

The Eastern Townships School Board will be extending its planned fall break until Nov. 23. The board says two shared campuses in Montérégie will also close on Nov. 24 because of the FAE strike.

The Centre de services scolaire du Val-des-Cerfs in the Eastern Townships has received notice of the FAE's unlimited general strike, and for the time being is advising parents that students should not come to its establishments from Nov. 21 to 24. It will provide an update if the strike continues during the week of Nov. 26.

The Centre de services scolaire des Mille-Îles, northwest of Montreal, says it has not yet received an official strike notice from the FAE but intends to follow the same plan as other centres.

The FAE does not represent any unionized employees at the Centre de services scolaire Marie-Victorin in Montérégie. Unionized employees will be on strike from Nov. 21 to 23, and activities will resume on the morning of Nov. 24 according to the usual schedule.

School service centres in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region also warned parents that classes will be suspended next week.

EMSB schools shutting down too

The English Montreal School Board (EMSB) said in a notice Wednesday that there are four different unions representing its staff, and they all gave the board official notice that they will be striking for the three full days.

This will lead to the closure of all elementary and high schools as well as adult and vocational classes. There will be no childcare services during that time either, the EMSB said.

As for FACE, a specialty elementary and secondary school downtown, its employees are members of the FAE. That means all FACE classes are cancelled indefinitely and the board vows to update parents of any changes to the situation.

"We are aware that this strike may inconvenience your family. We appreciate your understanding and collaboration during this time," the notice says.

'Negotiations are not a one-way street'

In an emailed statement, Florence Plourde, director of communications for Education Minister Bernard Drainville, wrote that the province is aware of the inconvenience for children and their parents.

"We're doing everything in our power to avoid this by making serious proposals," said Plourde.

Plourde said Quebec is still awaiting the union's counter-offer, and that the government's most recent proposal represents $8 billion in spending.

"Negotiations are not a one-way street," wrote Plourde. "The unions must come back to us with a counter-offer."

WATCH | Why are Quebec workers striking?

'Exhaustion on a daily basis' among reasons why Quebec workers are striking

1 year ago

Duration 1:00

Some education and health-care workers say they're walking off the job because they're overworked and underpaid.

The following service centres and school boards have announced closures for three days, Nov. 21-23.

• English Montreal School Board.
• Lester B. Pearson School Board.
• Riverside School Board.
• Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board.
• Eastern Townships School Board.
• Centre de services scolaire des Trois-Lacs (CSSTL).
• Centre de services scolaire Marie-Victorin.
• Centre de services scolaire des Appalaches.
• Centre de services scolaire de la Région-de-Sherbrooke.
• Centre de services scolaire du Val-des-Cerfs.
• Centre de services scolaire des Chic-Chocs.
• Centre de services scolaire des Îles.
• Centre de services scolaire des Hautes-Laurentides.

The following service centres are planning to close their schools and daycares Nov. 21-23 and potentially longer as part of a general unlimited strike. 

• Centre de services scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys.
• Centre de services scolaire de Montréal (CSSDM).
• Centre de services scolaire de la Pointe-de-l'Île (CSSPI).
• Centre de services scolaire de Laval (CSSL).
• Centre de services scolaire de la Capitale.
• Centre de services scolaire des Portages-de-l'Outaouais (CSSPO).