Pressure on the Autonomous Education Union (FAE) has increased since the Federation of Education Trade Unions (FSE-CSQ) reached a possible agreement with the government. Former FAE President Sylvain Mallette is concerned about this draft regulation and the possible impact it could have on the strike movement.
He was involved in the association from 2008 to 2022 before returning to work as a teacher. I find the FSE agreement disappointing. It is not for nothing that the FSE does not recommend it to its members and only supports it, he states in an interview on the program Première Heure.
For its part, the FSE reiterates that this is not a strategy to distance itself from the draft regulation. Since two negotiations, the FSE has reviewed its practices and no longer gives its members any recommendations, emphasizes spokeswoman Sylvie Lemieux.
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The Common Front consists of the CSN, the CSQ, the FTQ and the APTS.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Tifa Bourjouane
However, Sylvain Mallette is also concerned about the government's response. On Friday, the Office of the President of the Treasury Department praised the contents of the settlement hypothesis in a press release.
Since Friday, the FAE said it was open to starting intensive negotiations, but only under certain conditions. She continued talks with government officials late Tuesday evening.
Pressure on the FAE
Sylvain Mallette admits that the settlement hypothesis must provide additional pressure. The FAE has to cope with additional weight, he argues.
The teachers represented by this group of unions remain the only union members on an indefinite general strike. They began their strike on November 23rd.
The former president believes that this is the leverage that has weakened the government the most. I think that François Legault understood that teachers cannot simply be subjugated, he pleads.
He would still like to see a greater variety of pressure tactics. The unlimited general strike is one form of mobilization, but not the only one. “I think we can think about other forms of mobilization that put pressure on school management and network managers,” he explains.
Shortly before Christmas, teachers affiliated with the FAE increased their attacks and, among other things, blockaded the ports of Montreal and Quebec.
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Former President of the Autonomous Education Federation, Sylvain Mallette.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Karine Mateu
Sylvain Mallette calls on the FAE to be careful in the future. “My mother always said that you have to be smarter than the fox, so you have to take things calmly,” he illustrates.
The association brings together nine unions representing about 66,500 teachers, or about 40% of preschool, primary and secondary school teachers in the province.
The risk of an indefinite strike remains
The FSE's agreement hypothesis is presented to members so that they can vote on its acceptance or rejection. It only covers the working conditions of teachers.
As with the Common Front, where, among other things, salary issues are being negotiated, there is still no agreement; the possibility of joining the indefinite general strike in January remains.