By Neleh Vigneau Sargeant – Contributor 

Teachers and nurses from several union coalitions took to the streets last week after rejecting the latest offer from the Quebec government. The striking unions include the Common Front of public sector unions who represent 420,000 workers. Their members were the picket lines from Nov. 21 to 23. Also on strike was the Fédération autonome de l’enseignement (FAE), representing approximately 66,500 teachers, who went on strike on Nov. 23. Additionally, 80,000 nurses from the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec staged a two-day walkout on Nov. 23. to 24. Furthermore, the Syndicat de professionnelles et professionnels du gouvernement du Québec, who contains 700 members employed in ten CEGEPs, began a two-day strike on Nov. 23. 

At the peak, nearly 600,000 disgruntled workers were picketing, advocating for better salaries and working conditions. Prof. Jacob Robbins-Kanter, a political studies professor at Bishop’s University, explained why these public sector unions have decided to show a common front and strike together: “Since the COVID-19 pandemic there has been increased activism from organized labor.” He attributes this to the government’s reluctance to recognize the often heroic efforts of teachers and nurses during the pandemic in material ways. The serious underfunding of the health care and education systems in Quebec along with the increases in the cost of living are causing financial hardships for many families.

This reasoning aligns with the demands of union leaders who want more staff, higher salaries and better working conditions. They argue that nurses and teachers have been asked to do more with less for several years. 

The Quebec government made an offer at the end of October which included a 10.3 per cent salary increase over five years, a one-time payment of $1,000 to each worker and an extra three per cent increase for designated ‘priority’ jobs. The unions cited inflation expected to total 16.4 per cent over the next five years and rejected this proposal. They countered with a three-year deal with salaries tied to inflation: two percentage points above inflation in the first year or $100 per week, whichever is more beneficial. They proposed salaries three points higher than inflation in the second year and four points higher in the third.

Quebec Premier François Legault acknowledged that the government would put more money on the table, but only if the unions agreed to organize their work differently. Examples of what this might involve include teachers committing to classes in the spring, rather than August and incentivizing nurses with higher hourly wages to work less desirable shifts. 

The Common Front has announced a new strike from Dec. 8 to 14. This strike would shut down some public schools in Quebec only a week before Christmas break. Union leaders stated that earlier strikes have motivated the government to listen to their collective demands and make some concessions.

Robbins-Kanter theorized that we will see increased activity from organized labor in Quebec and elsewhere. He stated that “this is particularly true and important for younger generations who are finding they can’t afford the middle-class lifestyle that was available to their parents and grandparents’ generations.”

In the meantime, the coming days will determine whether many of the parents in these young families can remain at their jobs or have to take early vacations to stay home with school-age children.

This article’s headline was edited on Dec. 4 2:41 p.m.