Striking Quebec teachers block the Port of Montreal, cause 'significant' impact on operations
Several hundred striking Fédération Autonome de l'Enseignement (FAE) teachers blocked the entrance to the Port of Montreal on Thursday to put more pressure on the Quebec government to reach a deal.
Their reason for blocking the port was simple: economics.
"The only argument the government seems to understand is money," said FAE vice-president Patrick Bydal.
"Teachers are exasperated and angry at the government's irresponsibility and are making a major economic sacrifice to save public schools. The FAE and the teachers are, therefore, calling on François Legault to assume his responsibilities and act as a head of state concerned about reaching a satisfactory agreement in principle that will meet the crying needs of teachers, but also of their students, young people and adults."
Several hundred union members formed a picket line in front of one of the entrances to the port on Thursday, causing a massive traffic jam of trucks along Notre-Dame Street and Highway 25 in Montreal's Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough.
According to the Montreal Port Authority, the demonstration had a "significant" impact on port operations.
Spokesperson Renée Larouche said between 500 and 800 trucks, or 25 per cent, "were unable to make their transactions this morning [based on daily traffic]," leading to officials adjusting their logistics throughout the day to make up for the delays.
"We’re not giving up and we’re here to show [Legault] that … we’re here to hit him where it hurts economically," said English teacher Christian Lapierre.
The FAE represents around 66,000 elementary and high school teachers. The members have been on an indefinite strike since Nov. 23 and on Wednesday they rejected Quebec's latest offer.
Thursday's strike action was not announced ahead of time and police were unaware it was going to happen.
"We're here because the government doesn’t respect us, doesn’t respect the parents, the students and the public school," said Sarah Grenier, a special needs teacher. "We're mad, we're frustrated but we’re not tired. We're still here."
Quebec City teachers also blocked access to the port, and not far away, parents rounded up donations to give to teachers — about $5,000 of much needed support going into the holidays.
But it's not only teachers who are being hit hard during this strike. The federation of school principals says if a deal can't be negotiated, Quebec should consider back-to-work legislation in the new year.
"We have a lot of concerned parents who are reaching out and are worried about their child's learning," said Nicolas Prévost, president of the Fédération Québécoise des Directions d'établissement d'enseignement.
Premier Legault's government says it is focused on negotiations and not thinking about legislation to force teachers back on the job.
Teachers who are members of the Fédération des syndicats de l'enseignement (FSE-CSQ), which is part of the Common Front of public sector unions, have held periodic strikes over the past two months.
Neither the FSE-CSQ or FAE has signed a deal with the Legault government.
The 420,000-member common front coalition said it would launch an unlimited strike in 2024 if no deal is reached.
With files from CTV News Montreal's Matt Gilmour
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What weather experts say to expect this summer in Canada
Get ready to feel the heat, Canada. Weather experts are predicting more sunshine and warmer temperatures for the summer.
New COVID-19 subvariants become the dominant strains in Canada
More than four years after COVID-19 effectively shut down the world, two new variants of COVID-19 have become the dominant strains of the novel coronavirus in Canada.
3 Israeli soldiers killed in Rafah booby trap explosion, media say, as offensive widens
The Gaza health ministry called on Wednesday for ensuring safe pathways for the immediate entry of fuel and medical aid to Rafah and northern Gaza, according to a statement carried by Hamas media quoting spokesperson Ashraf Al-Qudra.
P.E.I. kiteboarder 'lucky to be alive' after shark attack in Turks and Caicos
A professional kiteboarder from P.E.I. says he has been seriously injured in a shark attack that occurred while he was snorkelling in the Turks and Caicos Islands last week.
'Unruly passenger' forces WestJet flight to make emergency landing in B.C.
A WestJet flight heading to Calgary had to make an emergency landing in northern B.C. Monday due to an incident involving an 'unruly passenger,' Mounties say.
Introducing peanut butter during infancy can help protect against a peanut allergy later on, new study finds
New evidence suggests that feeding children smooth peanut butter during infancy and early childhood can help reduce their risk of developing a peanut allergy even years later.
'It was hell': Israeli mother held hostage with her children describes 51 days in captivity
Hagar Brodutch, her three children and four-year-old neighbour were kidnapped by Hamas-led militants from their home in Kfar Aza, Israel on Oct. 7 and held for 51 days. They were released in November, but Brodutch says her thoughts are never far from those still being held in Gaza.
Jury in Trump's hush money case will begin deliberations after hearing instructions from the judge
Jurors in Donald Trump's hush money trial are expected to begin deliberations Wednesday after receiving instructions from the judge on the law and the factors they may consider as they strive to reach a verdict in the first criminal case against a former American president.
The double-level airplane seat is back. This time, there's a first-class version
It’s the airplane seat design that launched a thousand memes and kickstarted a media storm. And now the double-level seat is back – only this time, with a twist.