“Education Professionals Protest Labor Shortage and Working Conditions in Quebec”

The demonstrators, carrying placards, had placed vacant chairs in full view of motorists to lament the consequences of the labor shortage.

There is a panoply of professionals who are hard at work and who currently feel they have to fill in the gaps. At the time, we were talking about the school at arm’s length, but here, it’s the school at the end of its ropementions the vice-president of the Union of professionals in the North-West school environment (SPPMSNO), Jean-Claude Major, under the sound of horns.

The demonstration is part of the negotiations with the Government of Quebec for the renewal of their collective agreement.

Hundreds of positions to fill

Mr. Major, who refers to figures from the Federation of Education Professionals of Quebec, estimates that there is a lack of a hundred professionals in the schools of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, against a thousand across the province. .

He also believes that professionals working in the public sector, such as psychoeducators and librarians, can help children succeed academically, but also grow personally.

Protesters at Larivière Park in Rouyn-Noranda.

Photo : Radio-Canada / Gabriel Poirier

We really have to think about the educational success of our students. It’s good, academic success, it’s good to be able to succeed in our maths, French… but succeeding in life is also something super important. And that’s basically a lot of what professional services work in complementarityemphasizes Jean-Claude Major.

The Rouyn-Noranda School Service Center did not wish to comment and react to the demonstration. And the Department of Education had not responded to our interview requests at the time of this writing.

More money

“Empty chairs” are deployed by professionals in the education sector to decry the shortage of labor and their working conditions in the public network.

Photo : Radio-Canada / Gabriel Poirier

The union is asking the Quebec government to improve the working conditions of its members, in particular by reducing the use of telework, and, above all, to increase wages. This avenue is seen as a means of attracting and retaining professionals in the public sector.

Jean-Claude Major adds that other actions are to be expected if negotiations with the government continue to stumble. It’s only a beginninghe argues.

It should be noted that other visibility actions have been carried out elsewhere in Quebec by education professionals.