The Quebec government submitted a new regulation proposal Monday evening to the Autonomous Education Federation (FAE), which has been on an indefinite general strike since November 23. The union’s executive committee indicates that it is analyzing this “verbal proposal” and will shortly convene one of its bodies to discuss the continuation of the negotiations.
The President of the Treasury Board, Sonia LeBel, sent a written statement to the media on Tuesday morning announcing a new proposed agreement with the FAE. “We are committed to resolving quickly and this proposal demonstrates that,” she said. If this is accepted, it could make it possible to concretely improve services to students, the working conditions of teachers and would respond to the priority issues raised by the FAE. » Quebec says it hopes for “positive feedback” from the union “soon”.
In a press release issued later Tuesday, the FAE specifies that it is a “verbal proposal for an exploratory agreement in principle” and that a single document, of one and a half pages, accompanies it. She said she received it “very late” on Monday. The union adds that the government “brushed aside” a proposal submitted earlier Monday and that it was linked “to flexibility and assignments.”
The government and the FAE do not agree on the question of teacher assignments. Quebec wants to carry out the assignment process in June, in order to avoid too many positions remaining to be filled on the eve of the start of the school year. The FAE considers that this is a “false solution” to resolve the problem of staff shortages.
Remember that the FAE has 66,500 members in various regions: Montreal, Laval, Montérégie, Basses-Laurentides, Estrie, Outaouais and Quebec.
Students whose teachers are affiliated with the FAE have been on forced leave since November 21. The Common Front, which notably represents school support employees (daycare educators, secretaries, etc.), walked off the job from November 21 to 23, which forced the closure of schools. The FAE began its indefinite general strike on November 23.
Further details will follow.