This text is part of the special Syndicalism booklet
Negotiations between Quebec and the public sector unions have already resumed to renew the collective agreements which expire at the end of March 2023. The Autonomous Federation of Education (FAE) presented its list of demands which, beyond wage demands , focus on other major themes to address the current teacher shortage, including workload relief.
First, raising salaries is essential to improve many points within the teaching profession: to attract workers, but also to keep them, because staff retention is a problem within the teaching profession, explains the news President of the FAE, Mélanie Hubert.
Between 25 and 30% of young people desert the profession, often during the first five years of employment, according to the FAE. Since the start of the school year, the sector has still not managed to overcome the shortage. “It’s one thing to interest people, but you also have to be able to keep them in the profession,” notes the president.
Increase the salary
During the election campaign, recalls Mélanie Hubert, Prime Minister François Legault repeatedly spoke of the 15% increase that was offered to certain groups of teachers. “Despite the gains that Mr. Legault was able to claim during the campaign, teachers in Quebec are still the lowest paid in Canada,” she argues.
If the last round of negotiations made it possible to improve the salaries of teachers entering the profession and those at the last level, those who find themselves between these two stages have been left behind, indicates the president.
From a salary point of view, the some 60,000 teachers represented by the union are demanding a basic catch-up at the level of the Canadian average. “The fix would lead us to an increase of approximately 7.8% on the salary scale. “To this catch-up would be added an annual salary increase linked to the consumer price index, “with a minimum of 4% per year”, specifies Ms.me Hubert.
Better balanced classes
The FAE also urges the government to open classes adapted to the needs of students with learning and adaptation difficulties. Echoing the remarks of Mr. Legault, the trade unionist recalls that “Quebec has a duty to allow each child to go to the end of his potential”. But the composition of the class is a major problem currently in Quebec schools, according to her. The integration into ordinary classes of students with disabilities or with difficulties weighs heavily on teachers, who do not have all the resources or the training necessary to meet their needs, not to mention that they must accompany their other students.
“We have a three-speed school. Some students are selected on the basis of their school results and go to the private sector. Public schools also seek to offer competitive programs to retain students. A second skimming is done and, very often, students in difficulty will find themselves in the same classes, illustrates Mme Hubert. The school must be inclusive and welcome all children, but we are asking for more specialized classes, better adapted to the realities of some,” she adds.
The FAE proposes to limit the number of students who need intervention plans per class. “It’s not uncommon for teachers to tell us that they have half or two-thirds of a class with special needs, such as dysorthographia, ADHD, etc. “, she says.
The same goes for reception and francization services for students coming from abroad, she continues. “The children are put in regular classes, without a second-language French teacher. We need reception classes and evaluate the students to ensure that we offer them the best possible service, ”she judges.
Better working conditions
Finally, one of the main demands concerns a better approach to family-work-personal life balance, which is no longer adapted to the reality of teachers’ families, believes the FAE. The shortage of personnel prevents many of them from being able to take leave, for example, or to reduce their week to four working days, as is the case in other professions. The Federation is asking for more flexibility, but also the right to disconnect, in particular that parents cannot write to teachers at any time of the day and evening.
Workload has a big impact on the physical and emotional health of teachers, says FAE. Many of them would like to see their administrative workload reduced. The teaching profession often requires other professional activities, such as supporting new teachers, professional development and participation in various committees, whether contracted or not; additional tasks, sometimes difficult to reconcile with an already full schedule.
Education, a priority?
“The priority of priorities must remain education… That’s what Mr. Legault said in his victory speech,” recalls Mélanie Hubert. To make it a real priority, however, it will be necessary to invest the necessary funding, according to her.
“We hope that the government will walk the talk, continue what we started in the last round, offer competitive salary conditions compared not only to other provinces, but also to other better-paid jobs,” says -she. His wish: that the government seizes its chance to create real change and give this profession all its letters of nobility.
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