This text is part of the special section Unionism
If the FAE still dares to believe in an agreement between now and the holidays, according to the admission of its president, Mélanie Hubert, the negotiations continue to go in circles.
“The negotiations did not have a very sustained pace in November, but we maintained the discussions,” says Mélanie Hubert, president of the Autonomous Education Federation. However, no notable progress has been announced despite the launch of an indefinite general strike by the FAE, which is demanding better working conditions for teachers and learning conditions for students.
“We are still banking on an increase of 4% per year to cope with inflation,” declares the trade unionist, who also highlights the need to improve the scaling and structure of salaries so that the remuneration of its members can tend. towards the national average.
Getting out of the dynamic of offer and counter-offer
However, the FAE does not intend to present a counter-offer to the employer side – which also includes school service centers and school management – for two reasons.
First of all, it considers that it has already made its way on September 7, with the presentation of a list of priorities, for which the Federation abandoned several demands, in particular the recognition of the union working time of delegates.
The second reason lies in the “capital” content of these negotiations, not only for the well-being of teachers, but for that of public education in Quebec, maintains Mme Hubert: “Groups are becoming more and more difficult to manage. We have observed an increase in the workload for years. We cannot continue to present counter-offers indefinitely. »
The president also deplores the lack of listening at the negotiating table, emphasizing that it is difficult to get the management side to understand the teachers’ point of view: “We agreed to look at the priorities of Sonia LeBel and to provide solutions, even though they are not ours. We expect the same from the other party. »
Mélanie Hubert also regrets that several proposals put on the table are put forward without taking into account the view of the profession, pointing in particular to the classroom aid proposed by the government to lighten the burden on teachers: “Focus on people from the education services care to provide specialized services to students is not a solution. We turn arround. »
Improving daily life in classes
In terms of demands, “it’s blocking almost everywhere”, summarizes the president, who emphasizes that the urgency, for the Federation, is that employers equip themselves with mechanisms to improve the daily life of classes. And this requires, according to her, a better composition of groups, the creation of special services, as well as reception classes for students from immigrant backgrounds. “On these subjects, the government is asking for flexibility, but we have observed that school service centers do not act if they are not forced to do so. »
Another important point for the unions: reducing the workload of teachers. This includes authorizing a relaxation of leave requests and meeting their need for continuing training. However, this type of request comes up against, according to the employers’ side, the context of a labor shortage, which makes it particularly difficult to send substitutes.
This alibi cannot, however, be brandished every time, according to the trade unionist, who emphasizes that certain demands which do not require the replacement of personnel are nonetheless swept aside from discussions. “Why couldn’t teachers benefit from teleworking hours during educational days or their personal work hours? »
“We understand that not everything is achievable, but we cannot always ask the same people to carry the system at arm’s length in the name of the labor shortage,” adds Mélanie Hubert, who expects at least that the government commits to finding solutions to this issue in the medium term, while the current negotiations involve a five-year contract.
“We dare to think that the government will be willing to take into account the words of teachers before the holidays, but it will take more than cosmetic measures,” warns the president of the FAE, who is counting on the support of the population.
“We hope that people will understand the importance for our society that the public system is in better shape. »
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