Parents facing childcare challenges due to education sector strikes

Many parents are preparing for a major headache from November 21 when they will have to be creative in finding care for their children due to strikes in the education sector.

• Read also: A “historic” teachers’ strike that could be long

• Read also: Schools in several school service centers closed for an indefinite period from November 21

“It’s going to be complicated, we’re going to have to organize ourselves with teleworking and juggle schedules,” explained Marlon Martinez, who was coming to pick up his daughter Maya, 8, from Armand-Lavergne primary school, in the borough. Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.

For him, as for thousands of parents, the launch of an indefinite strike from Tuesday, November 21 is already causing headaches. Especially for those who have no choice but to show up at their workplace.

“I really don’t know how I’m going to do it,” asked a mother who did not want to be identified and who works in the restaurant industry. I no longer have any vacation days and I can’t be gone for more than three days!”

Passed near the exit of the Denise-Pelletier school in Rivière-des-Prairies, Yeri Diaz listed the solutions available to him, while trying to plan the logistics.

“One day, my mother should be able to take my children and those of my sister. Another, my partner should be able to telework. I will probably have to take a day or two off to get there,” he said.

Understanding

Despite everything, the education community receives the support of the parents met by the Journal.

“It’s shaping up to be a bit of chaos, but I support their demands. We are united,” said Mylène Lefebvre, a health worker whose two children go to Saint-Justin school, in eastern Montreal.

The story is the same for a mother met in front of the La Vérendry school who hopes that the government will not let the negotiations drag on until Christmas.

“What’s disturbing is that the government is trying to say that parents are going to be in a precarious situation because of the teachers, but we see more of the opposite,” she says.

And learning?

For little Daniel, 9 years old, these “grown-up affairs” mainly meant “several” days off.

“I hope my mom will be with me every day,” he said, smiling at the Journal.

Her mother, Nathalie Laforge, was also worried about a work conflict that could drag on and its impact on the children’s development.

“It really hasn’t been easy with the closures during the pandemic. Is it really necessary to lose more learning days?,” continued the laboratory technician.

– With Axel Marchand-Lamothe