Negotiations between Quebec and the Autonomous Education Federation (FAE) resumed on Tuesday after a 24-hour break. For Sylvain Mallette, former president of the FAE from 2008 to 2022, the association must show “calm” and “courage” without signing a “discount” agreement.
Posted at 8:53 p.m.
The FAE negotiating committee “has been at work since this morning,” communications manager Marie-Josée Nantel confirmed to La Presse. Union and employer spokespeople should arrange a meeting for Tuesday.
“So negotiations have resumed,” she added, without revealing the progress.
This restart follows a 24-hour break during which various parties can enjoy Christmas. Although many unions have said they have reached certain fundamental agreements with Quebec on their working conditions, many issues remain on the central table of discussion. Especially with regard to salaries and pensions.
On December 21, FAE members voted unanimously in favor of the proposal to enter into negotiations, but on the condition that they be able to discuss union proposals.
“The teachers did not strike for 22 days to have the terms of an agreement dictated to them,” the association said on the social network X on December 22nd.
The FAE brings together nine unions representing more than 66,500 teachers, particularly preschool, primary and secondary school teachers. They have been on an indefinite general strike since November 23rd. They are easily recognized by their red hats on the picket lines.
In a press release dated December 22, the head office's president, Mélanie Hubert, pointed out that “the government still refuses to listen to several proposals from the union that respond to the urgent needs of teachers and their students, young people and adults “The management side tries to limit the subjects' involvement in an attack. »
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, LA PRESSE ARCHIVE
FAE demonstration at the Port of Montreal, December 21st
Shortly before Christmas, professors affiliated with the FAE blocked the port of Montreal. Last Friday, a citizens' rally in support of teachers was also held in front of Prime Minister François Legault's office on Sherbrooke Street in Montreal.
For Sylvain Mallette, the FAE must be “smarter than the fox” in these negotiations.
“François Legault doesn’t want 2024 to be like 2023. He wants to turn the tide and say: I will have subjugated the teachers, especially the women. So why should we give him what he wants when he won't give us what we need to do our jobs right? » asks the trade unionist, now a teacher again.
The unlimited general strike is not the only means of pressure
At the time of the break in negotiations, sectoral settlement proposals were available with nine CSQ associations and the eight CSN associations.
However, union members still have to vote in favor of the agreements.
The Federation of Education Unions (FSE), which represents 95,000 teachers in the province, is one of the associations that ratified such an agreement on December 22.
Sylvain Mallette reiterates that the FSE has not recommended its members to vote for this proposal, proving that it is “disappointing”. “I call on the president of the FSE to recommend that members vote for the draft sectoral regulation,” he added in an interview.
PHOTO ANDRÉ PICHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVE
Sylvain Mallette
This agreement resulted in the FAE being dragged down. Given that the FSE has decided to negotiate at a discount, it is certain that the FAE will have a greater weight to bear.
Sylvain Mallette, former President of the FAE from 2008 to 2022
In his opinion, this agreement also calls into question the use of the indefinite general strike as a means of pressure.
“The unlimited general strike is a form of extreme mobilization with serious consequences,” he recalls. In his opinion, this made it possible to achieve goals of which its members could be proud, in particular “exposing François Legault and Bernard Drainville”.
“But from the moment another organization signs at a discount, is this form of mobilization still the right one? “We have to ask ourselves the question,” analyzes the ex-president.
The Alliance of Professional and Technical Personnel in Health and Social Services (APTS) and the College Council of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, of which the FTQ is affiliated, also reached agreement in principle during the sectoral negotiations. According to the various leaders of the associations, these are mainly agreements that concern the flexibility of schedules.
With the Canadian Press
Agreement already ratified
In education:
- FPSES-CSQ (Federation of Personnel Supporting Higher Education) – 4,300 members
- FEC-CSQ (Federation of College Education) – 3000 members
- FPPE-CSQ (Federation of Education Professionals) – 10,000 members
- FPPC-CSQ (Federation of Professional College Staff) – 2000 members
- FSE-CSQ (Federation of Education Unions) – 95,000 members
- FPSS-CSQ (Federation of School Support Personnel) – 40,000 members
- FNEEQ-CSN (National Federation of Teachers of Quebec) – 35,000 members
- FEESP-CSN (Federation of Public Service Employees) – 35,000 members
- SEPB-FTQ (Trade Union of Professional and Office Workers) – 15,000 members
- UES-800-FTQ (Service Employees Union) – 20,000 members
- CPC-SCFP (College Council, affiliated with CUPE and FTQ) – 12,000 members
- CPSS-CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees, affiliated with CUPE and FTQ) – 7,500 members
In health:
- APTS (Alliance of Professional and Technical Personnel in Health and Social Care) – 65,000 members
- FSSS-CSN (Federation of Health and Social Services) – 120,000 members in the public sector
- FP-CSN (Federation of Professionals) – 8,000 members specializing in health and education
- FSQ-CSQ (Quebec Health Federation) – 5,000 members
- SQEES-298-FTQ (Quebec Union of Service Employees, Local Section 298) – 25,000 members
- CPAS-SCFP (Provincial Social Affairs Council, affiliated with SCFP and FTQ) – 30,000 members