April 2005  / Volume 7

Public school teachers have begun to mobilize province wide. The “Letter to the Employer” campaign was quite a success and certainly got a rise out of the employer group. In fact, they were quite annoyed about the whole thing. It’s time to ratchet up the pressure to another level.

We have received more favourable media coverage than ever before! Let’s keep up the pressure! Remember:

Teachers’ working conditions  =  students’ learning conditions!

The slow pace of negotiations allows the government to effectively secure a contract extension for a third year. Originally, the contract expired in June of 2002! A one year extension was only agreed to conditional on the government settling outstanding salary equity issues. Needless to say THAT DID NOT HAPPEN!  In the meantime, students with special needs are not getting the services to which they are entitled and classes are larger than ever.

Need an example?

In two anglophone school boards, more than 50% of ALL kindergarten classes are over maximum size. How’s that for a “head start”?

How about another example?

In one anglophone school board, 8 out of 11 elementary cycle 1, year one (grade one) classes are over the limit! That’s almost 73%! You thought school success for all was a priority? Not in Mr. Charest’s Quebec!

Strike votes are being taken province-wide.

The Syndicat de Champlain on the South Shore of Montreal is a local union with 8000 teacher members. A strong majority (84.3%) of members present at the general meeting

voted in favour of two strike days.

It’s time to make a decision that will improve education in Quebec.

It’s time to take a stand!