Marion Miller is a high school teacher in Montreal and will strike next week, even though that means she will not receive her salary. Miller is a member of the Fédération autonome de l'enseignement (FAE) (Autonomous Federation of Education) which represents 65,000 teachers working in the French school system, where the union will begin an unlimited strike on November 23, and Miller said there is no pay for the strike.

Miller also said that the strike will definitely be a burden. She explained: "We have an agreement with a bank to get short-term loans during the strike. But it is undoubtedly difficult, especially for families with young children or where both are teachers, which can happen quite often, or where there is only one person."

Miller said it is unclear how long the strike will last, but she knows she will be among those walking the picket line five days a week despite the cold and loss of income. Miller said: "Things have to change and the government must move."

Service centers and school boards throughout Quebec have announced that schools and daycare services will close their doors starting Tuesday due to the workers' strike, and in some cases indefinitely.

It is known that the Front commun syndical (Joint Trade Front) and the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (Quebec Interprofessional Health Federation), which represent teachers, school support staff, and nurses in Quebec, will strike from November 21 to 23.

Then there is the FAE, which brings together nine unions from 12 school service centers, including the largest French-speaking service center in Montreal.

Meanwhile, Catherine Bouvier Saint-Pierre, president of the Montreal Teachers' Alliance, said that the lack of strike funds has been agreed upon by the members, but there is no doubt that the loss of income puts significant pressure on the strikers. She said this shows the seriousness of the union members.

The alliance is directing its members on various ways to obtain financial assistance if necessary.