Quebec teachers' strike: EMSB teachers vote for strike mandate

The union representing teachers of theEnglish Montreal School Board has gotten the approval to hold six non-consecutive strike days.

"EMSB teachers have voted 76.5 per centin favor of a strike mandate. Thank you to all teachers for coming to tonight's meeting and supporting your negotiation!" the Montreal Teachers Association posted on its Facebookpage Thursday evening.

The union represents about 2,300 teachers, who have been without a contract since April. The six non-consecutive strike days can be used as a way for teachers to show their discontent with the provincial government over lagging negotiations.

"A strikemandate hopefully will send a clear message that we don't accept what they are demanding," union head Peter Sutherlandtold CBC prior to the vote.

TheAppalachian Teachers' Association, which represents teachers of theEastern Townships School Board, also said yes to a strike mandate Thursday eveningwith a vote of 74 per cent.

Elementary school teachers with the Lester B. Pearson board voted yesterday, but those results will only be tallied after the board's high school teachers vote after 10 p.m. tonight.

Overwhelming support

So far, results on strike votes have been strongly in favour of job action.

More than 80 per cent of teachers and support staff at three other boards and one CEGEP, John Abbott, have all given strike mandates.

The union-federation of teachers at French-language schools (FAE) has already approved a one-day strike on Sept. 30.

That strike day is expected to affect 275,000 students in 10 Montreal-area school boards.

The French-language teachers are expected to hold two other strike days in October.

Main points of contention:

• Province wants to increaseteacher-student ratio.
• Province wants to eliminateallocated funds toward schools' programs for special-needs children.
• Province wants to cut 800 resource-teacher and special-education teacher jobs.
• A salary freeze for two years (the teachers are asking for 13.5 per cent over three years).
• Cuts to employee pension plans.

Strike vote results:

• Riverside School Board:Sept.15. Voted 86 per cent in favour of a strike.
• New Frontiers School Board:Sept. 16. Voted 86 per cent in favour of a strike.
• John Abbott College:Sept. 21. Voted 89 per cent in favour of a strike.
• SirWilfridLaurierSchool Board:Sept. 21-22. Voted 89.3 per cent in favour of a strike.

Upcoming strike vote days:

• Vanier College:Sept. 25
• Dawson College:Sept. 28-29