With the announcement by the Front commun intersyndical du secteur public québécois that a second strike sequence will take place from November 21 to 23, and the announcement by the Fédération autonome de l'enseignement (FAE) that an indefinite strike may be called as of November 23, the closure of schools and daycares will likely create childcare challenges for some employees.
To mitigate these challenges, we recommend that members explore the following options in discussion with their immediate manager:
- flexible working hours,
- use of family members, friends or alternate care arrangements,
- teleworking or modified work arrangements.
If none of these options are viable, and you are unable to work because of the closures, contact your steward immediately for advice and guidance on the leave available under your collective agreement. We are of the opinion that, due to the unpredictability of rotating strikes, employees may, depending on their individual circumstances, be entitled to take family-related leave in this context.
We will assist you in determining whether an individual or group grievance should be filed, particularly for any discrimination based on gender or family status.