23 April 2021
Quebec City, April 23, 2021. – The Fédération du personnel de soutien scolaire (FPSS-CSQ) announces that it has sent strike notices to the school boards and service centers affected, which will enable its members to exercise their right to strike on May 4, 2021.
A still avoidable strike
The FPSS-CSQ has issued these strike notices but still hopes to avoid having it come to this. In fact, its negotiators took the initiative this week to invite the government of François Legault to join them in a negotiating blitz, to try to reach a settlement. Negotiating blitzes are traditionally initiated by the employer party, but facing the intransigence of the other side, the FPSS-CSQ has taken the lead.
Employer party negotiators responsible for the Francophone collective agreements (S3) responded by inviting us to a so-called “exploratory” phase of negotiations, which suggests an opening on their part. This leaves us with 11 days to reach a settlement.
A year and a half and 48 meetings later…
Despite this expression of openness on the part of the employer party, the FPSS-CSQ will not be fooled and has elected to put a deadline on this negotiating blitz. This is why it is declaring from the outset that its members may exercise their right to strike on May 4, if no settlement has been reached by then.
Negotiators of the S3 collective agreement from both parties have met 48 times in the past year and a half, without any progress whatsoever.
An innovative strike
If no settlement has been reached at the negotiating table by May 4, members of the FPSS-CSQ will opt for an innovative strike, with no picket lines erected in front of the school sector establishments.
“The goal of this strike is not above all to prevent students from pursuing their academic studies. They are already having a trying year and we do not want to add to their stress. So, we will not be picketing to prevent teachers and professionals from providing their services. However, we want the government to realize the importance of school support staff. Let’s see how the education sector fares, as we know it in 2021, with support staff completely absent,” says FPSS‑CSQ President Éric Pronovost.
“Public sector working conditions are everyone’s concern! Aside from being a pressure tactic, we continue to say that a strike by CSQ members is a cry from the heart for better working conditions. Problems of retention, precariousness and a lack of appreciation are daily issues experienced by school support staff who expect and deserve solutions. The ball is now in the government’s court!” – Sonia Ethier, President of the CSQ.
School boards and service centers affected
Francophone:
– Centre de services scolaire de l’Énergie
– Centre de services scolaire de la Riveraine
– Centre de services scolaire des Draveurs
– Centre de services scolaire des Portages-de-l’Outaouais
– Centre de services scolaire de la Jonquière
– Centre de services scolaire des Trois-Lacs
– Centre de services scolaire de Laval
– Centre de services scolaire de la Beauce-Etchemin
– Centre de services scolaire des Premières-Seigneuries
– Centre de services scolaire de la Rivière-du-Nord
– Centre de services scolaire des Rives-du-Saguenay
– Centre de services scolaire de la Région-de-Sherbrooke
– Centre de services scolaire de la Pointe-de-l’Île
– Centre de services scolaire des Chic-Chocs
– Centre de services scolaire des Îles
– Centre de services scolaire des Patriotes
– Centre de services scolaire de la Vallée-des-Tisserands
– Centre de services scolaire du Fer
– Centre de services scolaire du Littoral
Anglophone:
– Eastern Shores School Board
– Eastern Townships School Board