Nunavik teachers’ union nixes school board’s offer

Nunavik school teachers have overwhelmingly rejected the Kativik School Board’s final offer Feb. 8.

Members of the Association of Employees of Northern Quebec voted against 88 per cent against the offer, while 85 per cent voted in favour of tougher pressure tactics – among them, a one-day strike set for Mar.8, 2011.

Ninety-six per cent of teachers voted.

AENQ president Patrick D’Astous told Nunatsiaq News that the union will continue to push for a number of demands before an agreement is reached.

Those include a policy for special needs students, a cap on class sizes, a culturally-appropriate school calendar as well as improvements to teacher housing and regional disparities.

The union said they are poised for more one-day strikes this spring, if necessary.

If the two sides are unable to reach a deal by the end of the 2010-11 academic year, an unlimited general strike is scheduled for the beginning of the 2011-12 school year, D’Astous said.

A strike fund has been put in place that would pay teachers one day’s salary for every three days of strike action.

The AENQ says they are also planning a media blitz aimed at new hires for the 2011-12 year.

The Nunavut Teachers’ Association recently reached a tentative agreement with the government of Nunavut after nearly two years of negotiations.