The president of the Union of Quebec Writers and Writers (UNEQ), Suzanne Aubry, said she was “moved, but serene” a few hours after the announcement of the resignation en bloc of her board of directors.
The announcement comes two days after a stormy general assembly during which the authors rejected by a proportion of 56% the proposal of the UNEQ to collect a union contribution of 2.5% on the income of its members, and 5% over those of non-member authors.
“The decision to give our collective resignation was carefully considered”, explains Suzanne Aubry, who has chaired the UNEQ since 2017. “It is a decision directly linked to the vote, she specifies. We have always defended the fact that union dues were needed to finance collective bargaining. »
It was rejected in a democratic assembly, so we considered that we no longer had the mandate to continue our work.
Suzanne Aubry, President of UNEQ
Since the adoption of the Status of the Artist Act, the UNEQ has the mandate to represent authors until 2025 and to negotiate collective agreements with publishers – in particular with the National Association of Book Publishers (ANEL) and the Sogides group of Quebecor. UNEQ thus hopes to improve the working conditions and remuneration of authors.
arduous mission
Suzanne Aubry recognizes that the unionization of the literary community is “all new” and that obtaining union dues was not an easy mission to achieve.
“We are the only writers’ union in the world which has a law on the status of the artist and which has the possibility of financing the negotiations with these contributions. That’s why we posted [le 21 février] a 38-page guide to inform our members of these issues. But I am an eternal optimist, I believe that the idea will gain ground and that other authors will rise up and take up the torch. »
It should be noted that this is the second time that the UNEQ has turned to its members on the issue of union dues. Last June, during a general meeting in which barely 46 people took part (and voted), the decision to impose these contributions on members and non-members was taken, but it raised the ire of the majority of the members, who said they were not aware of the UNEQ’s approach.
Suzanne Aubry had recognized the error of the UNEQ and had subsequently embarked on a communication campaign with its members.
What explains, according to her, the refusal of the UNEQ’s flagship proposal? “There were still 40% of people who were in favor, says Mme Aubry, but among those who were against, there were authors who opposed the very principle of unionization. There are others who spoke about the little income they earn and still others who did not understand the need for dues. In fact, I must say it frankly, there are many who had not read our documents where we explained all that. »
reactions
On social networks, reactions to the en bloc resignation of the UNEQ board of directors went in all directions. In a statement sent to The Pressthe author India Desjardins said she deplored “the violence” experienced by the UNEQ team in recent months.
“I find it unfortunate that some have forgotten the humans in all of this. In recent years, this team has worked hard not only to change an unjust law, but also to create new programs for literature such as Reading Night or new writing scholarships. »
Although I have not always agreed on all points with them, I find that the bad intentions attributed to them are disproportionate.
India Desjardins
On her Facebook page, Marie-Ève Sévigny wrote: “If the Legault government had attached to the Status of the Artist Act envelopes allowing UNEQ, publishers, organizations, etc. meet the financial requirements of this law, we would not be there. »
What will now happen to the negotiations with the publishers of ANEL and the Sogides group?
“The negotiations have begun, but with the announcement of our resignation, we can no longer be the people designated to continue these negotiations,” replies Suzanne Aubry. They will resume with new elected officials, who will have to consult the members and find other ways of financing these negotiations, because they must continue. Perhaps they will propose to modulate the percentages, but they will have to find solutions. »
After all that, does the outgoing president of UNEQ still believe in the importance for authors to be included in the Status of the Artist Act ? “More than ever,” replies Suzanne Aubry. It is a law that allows us to negotiate. Which compels publishers to sit down with us. The law also gives writers who are victims of abuse the possibility of defending themselves before the Administrative Labor Tribunal, which was not the case before. So instead of going to court, authors can have recourse to the TAT, and that’s an incredible achievement. »
Sale of the Writers’ House
Moreover, during the general meeting last Wednesday, the 550 members gathered on Zoom voted by a narrow majority of 14 votes in favor of selling the Writers’ House, another controversial topic. An 18-month moratorium has been voted to allow a buyer to maintain the literary vocation of the heritage building located in Saint-Louis square.
PHOTO DAVID BOILY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
The House of Writers
It was heartbreaking for us too, but it was really to stop a bleeding. It was no longer the meeting place it had once been.
Suzanne Aubry
The resignation of the seven directors will take effect at the next annual general meeting scheduled for Wednesday, May 31.
Before the general meeting of March 29, the board terminated the contract of general manager Laurent Dubois, informed us Suzanne Aubry. “In recent months, there have been a lot of denigrating and violent remarks about him, we agreed together that it was better to end his contract. Was UNEQ satisfied with its work? “Absolutely,” replied Mr.me Aubry, it was very heartbreaking for us. Laurent Dubois is the best manager I have met in my life! »
The seven positions of administrator and administrator as well as the position of general manager will therefore be filled in the coming months. UNEQ will issue a call for applications. Until then, the current Board of Directors and its Executive Director will remain in place to manage day-to-day business.