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Quebec teachers on strike: 4 things you need to know

WATCH ABOVE: Teachers across Montreal are protesting budget cuts to education.

MONTREAL – Teachers unions in all the English-language school boards across greater Montreal have voted in favour of holding six strike days sometime after the federal election on Oct. 19.

READ MORE: Lester B. Pearson teachers protest government cuts

Here are four things you need to know about the impending strike action:

Lester B. Pearson teachers at the meeting prior to their strike vote, Thursday, September 24, 2015. Global News/Karl Dahl

Who voted ‘yes’?

Eastern Townships School Board: voted in favour of a strike

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English Montreal School Board: voted in favour of a strike

New Frontiers School Board: voted in favour of a strike

Lester B. Pearson School Board: voted in favour of a strike

Riverside School Board: voted in favour of a strike

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Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board: voted in favour of a strike

John Abbott College: voted in favour of a strike

Vanier College: voted in favour of a strike

Dawson College: voted in favour of a strike

Why the strike action?

Teachers are negotiating a new collective agreement with the provincial government.

They insisted  the government’s demands go too far, including increased student-teacher ratios, reduced programs for special-needs children and the implementation of a 40-hour work week.

READ MORE: EMSB and Lester B. Pearson teachers vote to strike

The government is also seeking  a two-year salary freeze and cuts to  pension plans.

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READ MORE: Châteauguay Valley teachers vote to strike

“It affects our classroom sizes and as a whole affects the education system in a really negative way,” Lasalle teacher Alisha Tathgur told Global News.

READ MORE: John Abbott College teachers vote to strike

The strike votes come after teachers upped pressure tactics, including work-to-rule that eliminated almost all extra-curricular activities from most schools.

Molly hold up a sign during a protest against budget cuts against education in Quebec, Tuesday, September 1, 2015. Kelly Greig/Global News

When will the strikes take place?

The six days of strikes will take place starting after the federal election on Oct. 19 for English school boards.

READ MORE: Current school board system should be retained: Jennings report

Each union is expected to release its dates in the coming weeks.

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READ MORE: Teachers from Sir Wilfrid Laurier vote to strike

French-language teachers unions have already approved a one-day strike on Sept 30.

READ MORE: #LiftTheBan: Student video asks Quebec government to reconsider budget cuts

It’s expected to affect abut 275,000 students in the Montreal area.

READ MORE: Ninety-one per cent of parents satisfied: EMSB parents survey

Two other strike days for the French school boards are planned in October.

How will this affect the kids?

READ MORE: Westmount High students protest budget cuts during lunch break

According to the unions, parents will receive notice seven days before each strike day so they can plan accordingly.

rachel.lau@globalnews.ca

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