Organizations representing 100,000 Quebec students have voted to walk out of class Thursday, to speak out against what they call the government's austerity measures.
Other groups, including 1200 Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) professors, as well as health care professionals, will also join in.
This marks the second week of anti-austerity protests this year, as several student associations at CEGEPs and universities have begun boycotting classes
Some will walk out of class for days, some for weeks, but most comes to an end over the weekend.
Student group ASSE is pleased with the turnout so far.
“The mobilization is going really well,” said ASSE spokesperson Camille Godbout.
ASSE, however, will be holding its general assembly this weekend to discuss its future plans. Some ideas up for discussion include postponing protests and the unlimited general boycott until the fall.
“We really want to build something that is larger than the student movement,” said Godbout.
Fall is when some in the public sector, including some teachers, can legally walk out.
Federation autonome de l’enseignment (FAE) held its first protest Tuesday on the day their contracts came to an end.
The group picketed for 13.5 minutes, symbolizing the increase in salary they’re asking for for over three years – not the zero the government is proposing.
“For the people who are taking care of the children or of the population in the hospital, it's the same; we don't deserve anything for the next two years? We think it's not fair,” said vice-president Alain Marois.
