Members of the Syndicat du personnel de l’enseignement des Hautes-Rivières (SPEHR),the union representing teachers in the region's French schools and vocational centers, voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action Monday, September 25. More than 100 of the 300 teachers represented by SPEHR voted 99.11% in favour of strike action at the meeting.

Lyzanne Cuddihy, a teacher at Ecole L'envolée in Campbell's Bay and a local rep for the union, explained that their asks include salary increases, but also improving the ratio of teachers to students.

She added that while they have voted in favour of striking, they will be waiting to coordinate their actions with other unions across the province. The SPEHR is affiliated with the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ), one of the major public sector unions that have formed a "common front" in their ongoing negotiations with the provincial government and adopted the slogan "Nous, d'une seule voix" (We, with one voice).

Cuddihy said that while a strike vote represents an escalation in the talks, she is hoping the dispute can be resolved without impacting students.

Radio-Canada reports that earlier this week, Treasury Board President Sonia Lebel said that the government would pare down its demands so long as the unions did the same. The common front responded in a press release by stating that after nearly a year of negotiations, the ball is in the government's court.

The full interview with Cuddihy is available below: