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.
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Here are four things you need to know about the impending strike action:
Who voted ‘yes’?
Eastern Townships School Board: voted in favour of a strike
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
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.
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The government is also seeking a two-year salary freeze and cuts to pension plans.
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“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.
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.
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Each union is expected to release its dates in the coming weeks.
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French-language teachers unions have already approved a one-day strike on Sept 30.
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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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