A request for a partial injunction from the Montreal School Services Center (CSSDM) has been partially approved. Despite the unlimited general strike organized by the Independent Education Federation (FAE), the schools in the city must remain accessible, according to a decision by the Quebec Superior Court on Monday morning.

Judge Dominic Poulin asked union members, among other things, to stop insulting, filming, and disturbing workers who voluntarily come to the school to carry out construction, renovation, and maintenance work.

He also requested that strikers not approach within one meter of these workers and prohibited them from removing license plates from their cars, referring to specific incidents recorded in recent weeks.

The judge, who took the order under advisement on Friday, ordered the strikers to immediately cease and refrain from any form of picketing on the [school] grounds by opening access to building entrances and parking lots.

The orders issued by the court this Monday target the Montreal Teachers' Alliance (Appel des Professeurs de Montréal APPM), which is part of the Independent Education Federation FAE, in an unlimited general strike since November 23.

Also, in his decision issued on Monday, Judge Poulin concluded that the way the Montreal Teachers' Alliance APPM and its executive committee members encourage teachers to exercise their pressure tactics causes serious harm to the Montreal Educational Service Center CSSDM, which justifies a temporary injunction while awaiting a hearing on the subject.

The School Services Center chose to place obstacles in the path of its employees, instead of supporting them in their demands to improve teaching conditions, as denounced by the Montreal Teachers' Alliance APPM on Monday.

The public opinion war continues...

At the same time, negotiations continue between the government and the Independent Education Federation (FAE), which also represents teachers from Laval, Laurentides, Outaouais, Capitale-Nationale, and the Greater Granby area.

In a written statement sent to the media on Monday morning, the office of the President of the Treasury Board, Sonia Lebel, expressed regret that the counteroffer presented by the union on Saturday did not propose anything regarding the flexibility demanded by the union.

"False," responded the union president, Mélanie Huppé, late in the morning before participating in a march alongside other strikers in Montreal. She confirmed that the Independent Education Federation (FAE) has proposed things that actually move in the direction suggested by the government.

In an interview with Midi info on ICI Première, Mrs. Huppé explained that her union showed openness regarding four of the five government priorities presented on October 11. These include creating new jobs and vocational training.

Regarding employers' desire to postpone teacher appointments for several weeks, she confirmed that the Independent Education Federation FAE did not make a counterproposal because this is a much bigger issue, and they are fighting to get offers and analyses that clarify where the problems lie and how significant they are.

Furthermore, the government's proposals on autonomy were not considered sufficient to end the strike.