In recent months, Quebec has seen a massive surge in the movement to fight austerity. As new talks between student groups and the government break down, the struggle against tuition hikes in Quebec has become a focal point.
The ongoing student strike that began in mid-February has had an enormous impact in Quebec so far, including a demonstration on May 22 of between 300,000 and 400,000 people. In response to the strike, the Liberal Party government of Jean Charest has implemented a law that essentially bans political protest and is aimed at ending the student strike.
Origins of the movement
The strike that began in February as a response to plans from 2010 to raise tuition by over 75 percent is the result of months of organizing by student unions. The government claims that the plan to raise tuition fees is to be implemented in order that universities “improve their competitive positioning worldwide and stand out in strategic areas.”
The goal of making universities “competitive institutions” is an attempt to make universities market-based institutions to produce additional profits for the super-rich. The attempt to profit from the education process itself is highlighted by the government’s proposal to allocate some of the revenue from the hike to offer loans to students who are unable to pay for the hikes in full.
At first, student groups attempted to negotiate with the government of Quebec with petitions, letters and calls to government officials to persuade them to not increase fees. When those methods failed, groups like the Coalition of the Association for Student Union Solidarity (CLASSÉ) called for a student strike to escalate the movement.
The ‘unlimited strike’
May 22 marked the 100th day of the student strike, with around 176,000 students still participating. The concept of the student strike promoted by CLASSÉ is that of an “unlimited strike” that does not have a set end date but rather is a tactic that is meant to continue to build pressure on the Charest government and will continue “until demands are met or until students decide to stop the strike.” The student groups that make up CLASSÉ meet regularly to decide whether to continue the strike, which has been growing since February and has drawn thousands of people in demonstrations.
Attempts to repress the movement
On May 18, the Quebec government passed Bill 78, which is a direct attempt to stop the student strike through political repression. The law requires prior approval by police for any demonstration of over 50 people, imposes large fines for violations (targeting student leaders), and makes supporting the strike illegal.
This law is a blatant attempt at direct repression of a movement that the government sees as having grown “out of control.” These efforts resulted in a backlash when between 300,000 and 400,000 hit the streets of Montreal, not only in support of the strike, but also to voice opposition to this blatant act of political repression. Hundreds have been arrested since the law has been put in place in what have been some of the largest mass arrests in recent Canadian history.
International solidarity
The issues facing students in Montreal face students around the world. The capitalist class has increased its attempts at imposing austerity from Europe to Latin America and has been met with mass movements that are standing up against such moves.
In New York City, where students are also facing tuition hikes and massive student debt, activists have been organizing solidarity rallies and marches. For example, students recently marched with pots and pans to make noise for New York’s version of “Casseroles Night,” a demonstration that recently took place in Montreal and across Canada. Casseroles Night itself was inspired by protests in Chile and Argentina.
In Chile, where the student movement has also been in the international spotlight, student leaders like Camila Vallejo have expressed support for the struggle in Quebec. From Chile to Quebec, the attempts to make education a commodity are attempts to open up new areas of profitable investment for the capitalist class.
The capitalists want workers to pay for their own education with higher fees and increased debt while reaping the benefits of an educated work force. Fighting back against attempts to reduce access to higher education is fighting for working-class empowerment.
