The Quebec government presented a new regulatory proposal on Monday evening to the Autonomous Education Federation (FAE), which has been on an indefinite general strike since November 23. The union’s executive board says it is studying this “verbal proposal” and will soon convene one of its committees to consider continuing negotiations. The Federation of Education Trade Unions (FSE-CSQ) confirms that a new employer offer will be presented to it on Tuesday evening. Quebec confirms a meeting and discussions will take place.
The President of the Ministry of Finance, Sonia LeBel, announced on Tuesday morning the submission of a new agreement proposal to the FAE. According to his office, this proposal aims to “improve student services and teaching conditions and respond to the priority issues raised by the FAE”.
When Ms LeBel then went to a meeting of her group’s representatives, she confirmed that the offer had been made.
“What we presented to the FAE late into the night was an offer to be able to reach an agreement. The FAE is therefore currently examining this offer. We hope that she comes back to us as soon as possible because every minute counts. »
Ms. LeBel showed that she was aware of the importance of a quick agreement.
“I always said I wanted to settle down [les ententes] before the end of the year, she said. The end of the year is approaching, so I think we need to take big steps on both sides. »
In a press release sent on Tuesday, the FAE clarified that it was an “oral proposal for an exploratory agreement in principle” and that it was accompanied by a single document of one and a half pages. She said she received it “very late” on Monday. The union added that the government had “pushed aside” a proposal put forward earlier on Monday and that it came with “flexibility and tasks”.
The government and the FAE do not agree on the issue of teacher deployment. Quebec wants to carry out the procurement process in June to avoid having too many vacancies on the eve of the school year. The FAE believes this is a “wrong solution” to solve the problem of staff shortages.
Prime Minister François Legault reiterated that the government continues to expect greater flexibility in exchange for improved salary offers.
“If we say that timetable decisions should be made in May instead of August, that would be better for the children because there would be no uncertainty at the start of the school year,” he said before heading to Question Time. So I think we can agree at the national level that this can be done anywhere in Quebec. »
The FAE claimed that the allocation process was a matter of “local agreements” negotiated in the past between each school service center and local unions.
Discussions between Quebec and the FSE-CSQ
On its Facebook page, the FSE-CSQ announced on Tuesday that it would receive “a deposit from a new employer this evening.” President Josée Scalabrini explained in a video that her association had just received a call “to inform us that we are changing the table to negotiate, that we will have a new proposal this evening.” She pointed out that the 34 unions affiliated to the FSE-CSQ could take note of the offer.
“If there is a development, we have always said it, we are ready,” continues Josée Scalabrini. We will be there to negotiate. If what we are offered is not interesting, you have worked too hard to reach a basic agreement that is limited to appearances. We do not negotiate on appearances. We are in a negotiation that could change your daily life. »
Sonia LeBel’s office confirmed that a meeting and discussions would take place on Tuesday evening. “We will not comment further,” said press spokeswoman for the President of the Finance Ministry, Marylène Le Houillier.
The 95,000-member FSE-CSQ is part of the Common Front, which went on strike November 21-23. She announced another series of strike days from December 8th to 14th.
The FAE, which has 66,500 members, has been on an indefinite general strike since November 23rd. According to the Ministry of Education, more than 368,000 students are affected by this strike.
With Alexandre Robillard in Quebec