Teachers Raise Their Voice Against Austerity

NewsHélène Bauer — Published October 1, 2015

“It is one minute to midnight. It is time to act and say no to this new budgetary model,” Kim de Baene from the Coalition opposée à la tarification et privatisation des services publics, announced to her fellow protesters.

The Fédération autonome de l’enseignement (FAE) representing 34,000 teachers in the province of Quebec lead the demonstration. The FAE and its allies voted to hold a one-day strike to march the streets and speak up against austerity measures taken by the province’s Liberal government that has affected the public school system.

The government wants to us believe that it has no other choice but to cut funding in public schools, de Baene said.

Video shot and edited by Matt D’Amours

Some of the proposed measures include raising the teacher’s working week from 32 hours to 35 hours, increasing the number of students in classes and making budget cuts that will lead to a cancellation of extra-curricular activities.

The strike started in the morning when teachers went to picket their respective schools. Using school buses as their mode of transportation, the teachers then made their way to Square Victoria. The rally started at around 11 a.m. when officials used loudspeakers to voice their concerns.

“It is a question of choice and we are saying no to this ideological choice,” said de Baene. The coalition proposed a 32-page document offering suitable solutions and budget rectifications.

The protest marched for about two hours between Square Victoria and Dorchester Square. The walk snaked around downtown Montreal, passing through Maisonneuve Blvd. W. before stopping in front of Quebec Minister of Education François Blais’ office on McGill College St.

Parents, children and student associations from Concordia University, McGill University, UQÀM and Université de Montréal all marched in solidarity with the teachers today.

“More so than for my own salary and working conditions, I am here to protect the students,” said Claudine Paquette, remedial educationalist at École Saint-François in Laval.

Two other strike days will be held for FAE between Oct. 14 and Oct. 30.