Quebec public sector workers hold rally in downtown Montreal

Tens of thousands of Montreal-area students are out of class today as teachers from several school boards take part in a two-day strike.

Public school and CEGEP teachers joined other public sector workers in Montreal and Laval in a walkout to protest stalled contract negotiations with the provincial government.

The walkout continues on Tuesday.

• Faces of the Quebec public sector strike
• Quebec publicsector worker strikes: Everything you need to know

Many teachers wereoutside their schools Monday morning,picketing to raise awareness of their cause.

TheMontreal TeachersAssociation along with the Pearson Teachers Union took part ina rally at the Metropolis onSte-CatherineStreet E. at noon and then marched toPlacedesArts.

An estimated1,000 teachers took part in the rally and march.

More strikes action planned

Quebec public school students have already missed a numberof daysdue to the ongoing labour dispute, which has shown little signs of progressing towards resolution.

A province-wide walkout is planned for Dec. 1, 2 and 3 for public sector workers.

Quebec labour unions rejected the provincial government's latest contract offerin early November, saying it was unacceptable.

The Front commun, a coalition of Quebec unionsfrom the public sector, said Monday that they will table a counter-offer on Wednesday, Nov. 18.

Public sector workers have been without a collective agreement since April.

Striking school boards in Montreal and Laval:

• English Montreal School Board (EMSB)
• Lester B. Pearson School Board (LBPSB)
• CommissionscolairedeMontral(CSDM)
• Commissionscolairede laPointe-de-l'le(CSPI)
• Commissionscolairede Laval (CSL)
• CommissionscolaireMarguerite-Bourgeoys(CSMB)
• Commission scolaire de Laval
• Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board

Click here for the full list ofCEGEPs and health-care establishments that are also holding strikes on Monday and Tuesday.

Daycamp organized for Montreal's West Island

A strike daycamp was organized in Pierrefonds-Roxboro for parents who cannot take the day off work during the rotating strikes.

Samya Tatone, a single mother of two, told CBC that she cannot afford to take the day off.

"I feel very sorry for the schools. Even from my own experience, the schools are being held back with all these budget constraints," saidSamya Tatone.

"I understand the teachers' predicament, I do feel for them, but the government needs to get a hold of this."