Quebec makes another offer to teachers as strike approaches one-month mark
READ THE LATEST: Teachers' union calls government's latest offer a 'step backwards'
The Quebec government has made another offer to the teachers' unions as the strike has nears the one-month mark.
"Today, we are making an important formal submission to the unions representing teachers (FAE and FSE-CSQ/QPAT) with a view to reaching agreements," wrote a spokesperson for Treasury Board President Sonia LeBel in a statement Tuesday afternoon. "We'll let the unions have a look at it first, but we won't be commenting on it for the time being."
Teachers under the unions, largely in the French school network, have been on strike since Nov. 23.
The FAE, which represents 66,000 elementary and high school teachers, confirmed on social media that a new offer would be delivered in the afternoon, but declined to comment further.
Before the new offer was announced, teachers staged a sit-in at government offices and once again marched through downtown with a clear message: they're not going away.
"We've had enough of them keeping us out of school, keeping students out of school, keeping parents held hostage. We've had enough, parents have had enough, we need to be back in schools," teacher Marion Miller told CTV News on Tuesday.
To show how serious they are, teachers occupied the downtown office of the transport ministry.
"We're fighting for our working conditions, and also for the learning conditions of public school students," said Catherine Beauvais-St-Pierre, president of the Alliance des professeures et professeurs de Montréal (APPM).
After nearly a month of striking, without pay, many Fédération Autonome de l'Enseignement (FAE) teachers say they are distraught.
"It's just been long. We're very tired, we've been walking, being outside the schools everyday for three, four hours every day, walking all around the city and nothing is moving. We're just very tired now," one teacher said.
They were bolstered by a new poll, however, that found 56 per cent of respondents support the teachers and that support rises to 63 per cent among parents.
"I think the government is losing the public support, because they’re seeing that it’s in their camp, they’re the ones dragging this out," Miller said. "We've moved at the table, we need them to move"
Alissa Gutman has been a teacher for the past 20 years. Her husband is also a teacher, and as much as she loves the job, she's now started a business, and is considering leaving teaching.
"It’s highly discouraging," she said Tuesday. "The income for teachers is proving to be unreliable and we're a family of four and I literally cannot afford to go without an income."
The hope is the government's newest offer will put an end to the strikes.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
'I killed four people': Trial hears video evidence of Jeremy Skibicki at Winnipeg trial
“I killed four people,” alleged serial killer Jeremy Skibicki told two homicide detectives during a recorded interview played as evidence in his trial Wednesday.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.