CALEB NICKERSON

CAMPBELL’S BAY May 19, 2021

On Wednesday, educators from around the Pontiac engaged in a half-day strike to protest the lack of a collective agreement with the provincial government. The strike by members of the regional educators union (SPPMSO-CSQ) was held at . . .

select locations which were kept secret until the last minute. In the Pontiac, a group picketed outside Pavillion Envolée in Campbell’s Bay.

This is the second strike that’s been called in the region, though the first was targeted at the offices of CAQ representatives in Maniwaki, Buckingham and Gatineau.

Among other things, the union stated in a press release that they were asking for higher salaries for their workers, who are 85 per cent women. The release states the union’s frustration with their negotiations with the CAQ government. It points out a disparity between the salary of educators and other public service jobs.

Annie St-Pierre, president of the SPPMSO-CSQ said in the release that she and her colleagues did not make the decision to strike lightly, as their ultimate goal is to support and contribute to the success of their students.

Local union representative Dominik Patry-Boisvenue told THE EQUITY on May 19 that educators were not teaching their classes that day, though some had assigned their pupils tasks to keep them occupied.

“Some teachers gave some work to do at home or just reading books, or … some work,” she said. “It depends on the school, how they prepared that.’