The general strike by lecturers at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM) was averted at the last minute. The union and the university management finally reached an agreement.
Posted at 6:34 p.m.
Gathered in a general meeting on Thursday, the members of the Union of Professors and Teachers of UQAM (SPPEUQAM-CSN) accepted the hypothetical settlement tabled by the conciliator.
This hypothesis was presented early Monday morning, just before the outbreak of an indefinite strike. The 2,500 members had then planned to express their dissatisfaction after more than a year of negotiations.
“The settlement includes several advances in various existing aspects of the current collective agreement and introduces new ones. Above all, it is a good step in favor of the will of the members to obtain a stabilization of jobs”, rejoiced Olivier Aubry, president of the SPPEUQAM-CSN.
After about forty negotiation sessions, the union felt that it had obtained significant gains. They relate in particular to professional stabilization, teaching qualification requirements (EQE) and online teaching.
UQAM management welcomed the adoption by the lecturers of the agreement in principle. She indicated that the latter will soon be submitted to the board of directors of the university.
The new collective agreement will be in effect until December 31, 2025.