08) QUEBEC STUDENTS STRIKE AGAIN

    Quebec students are in action again.  In late March, 30,000 students voted to go on strike for access to education, as well as against anti-austerity measures, climate change and gender inequality. The strike will last for one or two weeks, but may be extended. It is spread across 25 student associations on six CEGEP and University campuses.

 

    Despite freezing rain and snow, a rally of several thousand was held on March 21 in Montreal. In violation of bylaw P6, organizers refused to release their route. Continuous actions are taking place across the province during the strike week. The students have the support of the Quebec labour movement through the Front Commun and other anti-austerity coalitions. They are building mass protests for April 2 and May 1.

 

    “The mobilization of students in Quebec serves as an inspiration for students across Canada to fight back against austerity,” says Mohamed, an organizer with the Young Communist League from Toronto who attended the rally. He told People’s Voice, “the students have a common agenda and common struggle.”

 

    Quebec solidaire MNA Françoise David, whose party is also supporting the broad movement, said that "More measures will affect large segments of the population, they will rebel. At some point, people will say ‘no it's not possible, we want a state that takes care of the people.

 (The above article is  from the April 1-15, 2015 issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading socialist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)