A new day of strike and mobilization is announced on February 16, after that scheduled for February 11 against the pension reform. Will the teacher and student unions respond to the strike call? Update on the latest news.
After the strike of February 7, which brought together more than 750,000 demonstrators according to the Ministry of the Interior and nearly 2 million for the unions, a fifth day of national mobilization is scheduled for Thursday, February 16, in addition to that of Saturday 11 February. The inter-union, which has opposed the government’s pension reform project from the start, met on Wednesday February 8 to decide on the next days of action. “The inter-union meeting today decided on a national day of interprofessional action on February 16, said Dominique Corona, deputy secretary general of Unsa, to AFP. For the time being, it is still difficult to know if all the sectors of activity will respond to the call to strike. What about National Education? We take stock of the latest announcements from the teachers and youth unions.
Teachers mobilized for the strikes of February 11 and 16?
Since the start of the protest in January, the teaching profession has been mobilized to push the government to abandon the pension reform, currently being debated in the National Assembly. Most opponents want the executive to give in on the raising the retirement age and the duration of contributionsand also reconsiders the teaching profession. For the next day of national mobilization, scheduled for Saturday, February 11, the teachers’ unions have responded. Knowing that the date falls in the middle of school holidays in zone A and B. On the other hand, for the strike of February 16, no announcement has yet been made. In a joint press release, dated February 7, which some teacher and student unions co-signed, it is stated that: “the intersyndicale will announce on Saturday February 11 the consequences of the mobilization”.
High school students and students on strike on February 11 and 16?
On the youth side, the high school and student unions will join the movement for the mobilization of Saturday February 11. “The inter-union calls on the entire population to demonstrate even more massively on Saturday February 11 throughout the territory to say no to this reform”, is it written on the joint press release. The teaching staff in vocational high schools will also join the demonstrations, to protest against the pension reform and that of vocational high schools, carried by Carole Grandjean, Minister Delegate in charge of vocational training. Regarding the call for a strike on Thursday, February 16, there too no announcement has yet been made. On the other hand, the UNEF, the student union, calls “to take to the streets on February 19 against the government’s project” and student precariousness.
The pension reform is like the government’s social project, it reconsiders major social achievements and promises youth precariousness for life!
We call to take to the streets on January 19 against the government’s project! pic.twitter.com/0HK22HzY0g
—UNEF (@UNEF) January 10, 2023
What if my child’s school or class is closed?
Primary schools (kindergarten and elementary) are concerned by the minimum reception service in the event of a strike (if more than 25% of teachers are absent). This is not the case for colleges and high schools, as well as in nurseries or even for after-school care. In cases where there is no childcare service in place, the parents of students must on their side find a solution to have their children looked after. Without a solution, some parents sometimes have to take a day off or telecommute.
Can a student be refused entry to school if there is a strike?
In the first degree, even if there is a planned strike in a school, under no circumstances can a pupil be refused school. “A pupil in primary school (nursery or elementary) must be welcomed during class time, even if his teacher or mistress is absent. This reception service is free. It is provided differently at public school and at private school under contract”indicates the site of the Public Service, according to the law in force since 2008.
Are teachers obliged to declare themselves strikers in advance?
The right to strike in National Education responds to a few obligations. In the first degree, school teachers must declare their intention to go on strike in advance, at least 48 hours before the movement, respecting one working day. It is therefore not possible to declare oneself a striker on Friday if the strike takes place on Monday. If the teacher does not inform his management, he incurs a disciplinary sanction, indicates the ministry’s website.
In colleges and high schools, if a notice has already been given by a union, teachers are not obliged to declare themselves to be on strike in advance. It is up to the management of the establishment to carry out a census of the strikers and to inform the pupils and their families of them in advance. In fact, some teachers also use interactive platforms with students and families to announce their participation or not a few hours before the start of classes. Advice: do not hesitate to contact the school management a few days before or the day before to find out the details of the mobilization to come.