The rapid negotiations between the Fédération des syndicats de l'enseignement de la CSQ (FSE-CSQ) and the Ministry of Finance have borne fruit. The two parties agreed on a possible settlement after late-night negotiations. According to Radio-Canada, this agreement will be presented early this afternoon to a panel of the FSE-CSQ, which will be tasked with reviewing, approving or rejecting it.
In an email to the leaders of the FSE-CSQ unions, the organization writes that it is pleased to announce that, following negotiations that lasted throughout the night, the Federation of Education Unions (FSE-CSQ) will present to the Federal Council at an early stage. This afternoon a proposal for a sectoral regulation was agreed with the government.
The Federal Council should decide on the content. However, we must not forget that the issue of salaries and intersectoral issues is still being negotiated at the central table of the Common Front. We will update you on the outcome as soon as possible, we add to this email received by Radio-Canada.
So, on the eve of the school holidays, this is a step in the right direction. On Wednesday, the FSE-CSQ, which is part of the all-union Common Front, rejected the government's latest formal offer, calling it a show of smoke and mirrors. This offer was also rejected by the Autonomous Education Federation (FAE).
Rallies in support of public schools are planned in Montreal and Quebec today to resolve the situation. “We want to remember that we stand behind the teaching staff and want a healthy public school,” said actor Vincent Bolduc in an interview with RDI.
Citizen demonstrations are planned for midday in front of Prime Minister François Legault's office in Montreal, Rue Sherbrooke Ouest, and in front of the National Assembly in Quebec.
There is no vacation for the CAQ: Sonia [LeBel]François [Legault]Bernard [Drainville]You'll eat your turkey and then your cake, with the laptop on your knees and your phone in your hands.
No attack on the FAE… for now
As for the 65,000 members of the FAE who have been on indefinite strike since November 23, negotiations are also underway, but there is currently no talk of a lightning strike.
The blockages still include the question of the composition of the class, which is considered critical. This also includes the possibility of opening new courses for students in difficulty.
It is absolutely necessary to make real progress in this area, stressed Thursday Catherine Beauvais-St-Pierre, president of the Alliance of Professors of Montreal, which is a member of the FAE. Negotiations during the holiday season are not impossible, according to the union organization.
On Thursday, members of the FAE blocked access to the ports of Montreal and Quebec as well as the entrance to the Lac Leamy Casino in Gatineau for more than two hours.
With information from Sébastien Bovet and Geneviève Proulx