CEGEP teachers who have been fighting for years to no longer resume “voluntarily”, without remuneration, courses canceled because of strike days have hope that a recent court decision will change the situation, while they are preparing to begin seven new days of strike on Friday.
“This judgment comes at a very opportune time,” says Youri Blanchet, president of the Federation of College Education (FEC-CSQ). If there is ever a resumption of classes, we will go there immediately with filing grievances on the basis of this judgment, so that we can plead them quickly and ensure that it is recognized and respected. [par les Cégeps] “.
The arbitration court ruled in favor on December 4 of the Drummondville CEGEP teachers who had held two days of strike during the winter session in 2021. Some had asked management to be paid for the canceled “educational activities” and taken back later, what had been refused to them.
However, this contravenes the fundamental right to strike, the arbitrator ruled.
“Since 2005, we have tried to recognize through judgments, which partially works, that the teaching task is difficult to compress. A course is accompanied by different parts that come around it, which are integral to the delivery of the course,” explains Youri Blanchet. A course that is given in front of a class must also be prepared and adapted with an update of knowledge, and also involves follow-up with students, as well as correction.
“The judgment says that a teaching task is made up of several parts and they must be carried out in full to be able to give a good lesson,” he continues. If you resume classes without being paid, the college gains from the free classes. This is a double loss for teachers. »
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