(Quebec) The Legault government’s new offer is still “far, far from meeting the expectations” of teachers, claims the CSQ, which, like the other members of the Common Front, will hold seven consecutive days of strike starting Friday.
Published at 11:05 am. Updated at 11:19 a.m
The Autonomous Education Association (FAE), which has been on an indefinite general strike since November 23rd, has been meeting since Tuesday to decide on the proposed regulation presented by the government.
In a short video on Facebook, the President of the CSQ Federation of Education Unions, Josée Scalabrini, provided information about the current status of the negotiations. It confirms receipt of an “exploratory” employer contribution from the government. On Tuesday “we had signals. We would be ready to start negotiations. “It’s far, far from living up to your expectations and those of your representatives,” she says.
“We remain on guard. We will manage to ensure that the negotiations are based not on the government’s priorities, but also on your priorities. »
If the government described its submission as an exploratory attempt, it was because it did not want the negotiations to take place in the media, they said. “I want to tell you that we will live up to the decisions of our Prime Minister and the President of the Treasury.” “If they do not appear in the media, we will not appear in the media either. However, we are still looking for an agreement that would significantly change your daily life. »
A few minutes earlier, Prime Minister François Legault reiterated that the government had “made a new offer to better pay teachers” and that “we ask for flexibility in return”. “We need more flexibility in our collective agreements in order to be able to offer better services,” he emphasized during a press briefing in Parliament.
He added that his “priority is that the children return to school as quickly as possible, that we clarify the negotiations with the teachers.”
During the question time at the Salon Bleu, François Legault recalled that the government is proposing to include 4,000 aids in the class, which would mean a cost of $350 million per year. It’s about “making the teachers’ work easier and helping them, because yes, in 2023 it will be difficult to teach 25, 30 children,” he explained.
He continues to insist that teacher assignments occur “in May and not at the last minute in August.” “I hope for a positive response from the unions so that we can resolve the matter,” he said in the House of Representatives around the same time the CSQ released its video.
François Legault and Treasury President Sonia LeBel refused to comment on Josée Scalabrini’s exit as they left the chamber.
Negotiations between the government and the joint trade union front at the central table where wages will be discussed will resume this Wednesday after a break of several days in order to move forward more quickly the talks at the industry tables on working conditions. It happened at the suggestion of the arbitrator.
“This morning we meet the common front. We will have made progress on all fronts, no pun intended,” Sonia LeBel said simply.
With Charles Lecavalier