Unlimited general strike: Teachers to receive $102,000, recalls minister Bernard Trinville

With Quebec’s offer, top-level teacher salaries will rise from $92,000 to nearly $102,000 a year, the education minister underscored. He is calling on unions to put forward a counter-offer to end the indefinite general strike affecting 40% of schools in the public network.

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“I think this is an important piece of information, not only for teachers but also for the general public, because it shows that we are serious,” commented Bernard Trinville on the sidelines of the Quebec Chamber of Commerce’s dinner conference on Monday. and profession.

In addition, he points out, Prime Minister François Legault last week opened the door to progress on salary concessions, both in terms of “parameters” and sectoral concessions that apply to all civil servants.

But in return, Bernard Trinville recalls, Quebec is asking for more flexibility, specifically to assign classes in June rather than September.

“I am not telling you a story, until now, there has been no movement on the part of the unions to offer better services, especially in terms of flexibility. We have no opening on this,” laments the minister.

Little movement

And while many children remain out of school, the government and unions announced little progress at the negotiating tables on Monday.

The Federation of Autonomous Education (FAE), whose members are on strike until an agreement is reached, however, confirms that meetings with Quebec are scheduled every day this week.

The teachers union is demanding that classes with high numbers of students with special needs be reduced. In particular, he proposes the creation of a large number of special classes, which is supported by 88% of the population, according to a Leger survey commissioned by the trade union.

Bernard Drainville, for his part, said Quebec is already proposing to add 4,000 “classroom assistants,” daycare workers or special education technicians who come in for 10 to 15 hours a week to lend a hand in 15,000 groups.

“This is important, Class Aids. It represents almost $300 million that we will give you in aid,” said Mr.

Delays

Meanwhile, the minister says he is worried about the backlog accumulated by children who have not attended school for the second week.

“This needs to be resolved as soon as possible for the sake of the children. What worries me now are the arrears that are piling up. Already, children have not recovered from the epidemic for two years,” he said.