Striking Quebec public sector workers cause disruptions in Montreal

Quebec's striking public sector workers are holding demonstrations today in Montreal, with someprotesters rallyingoutsidethe Palais de Justice.

Montreal police cleared the entrances that wereblocked by protesters for nearly two hours this morning. The demonstratorsincluded about 1,000 court clerks, court ushers and judges' secretaries who are off the job for the day.

Others rallied in front ofComplexe Desjardinsearlier in the day.

CEGEPs, daycares, schools in some regions of the province and manyprovincial government offices throughout the province are shut down today as part of a week of rotating strikes.

Police in Quebec City also had to escort employees who are not on strike to entrances of several governmentbuildings that were being blocked by protesters.

Negotiations between public sector employees and Quebec are at an impasse.

Civil servants have been without a contract since April.

Some 37,000 civil servants working inprovincialgovernment ministries and dozens ofparapublicagencies, includingRAMQand theSAAQ, are on the picket line. In total, 125,000 workers, including those in health care and education,are part of thewalkout on Tuesday.

Teachers at theCentral QuebecandEastern Shoresschool boards are among thousands of public sector workers striking Tuesday, with schools closed in Quebec City, Gasp andthe Magdalen Islands.

Workers are striking on different dates in different regions throughout the week.

Among the CEGEPsclosed Tuesday:Champlain College St. Lawrencein Quebec City, as well asFrench-language CEGEPs in Quebec City, Lac Mgantic, Baie-Comeau, Sept-les, Gasp, the Chaudires-Appalaches region and across the Lower St-Lawrence.

Health-care establishments and French-language schools are also closed in the following regions:

• Quebec City
• Lower St-Lawrence
• North Shore
• Gasp and the Magdalen Islands
• Chaudire-Appalaches

Agencies affected

Provincial employees in most government ministries and many para-public agencies are also on strike today, in addition to Nov. 12 and 13, as well as Dec. 1, 2 and 3unless there is progress at the negotiating table before then.

The provincial agencies affected Tuesdayinclude:

• Quebec Revenue Agency.
• Bibliothque et Archives nationales du Qubec(BAnQ).
• Police Ethics Commission.
• UPAC (Quebec's anti-corruption commission).
• CSST (Workers' Health and Safety Board).
• Quebec Labour Relations board.
• Council for the Status of Women.
• Coroner's Office.
• Public Curator of Quebec.
• Consumer's Protection Office.
• Health Insurance Board (RAMQ).
• Automobile Insurance Board (SAAQ).
• Rental Board (Rgie de Logement).
• Office qubcois de la langue franaise.

For a complete list of offices closed today, click here.