This text is part of the special 75th anniversary of the FEESP
To bring order to this apparently disparate whole, the Federation of Public Service Employees (FEESP) has chosen to group together the various unions, according to their affinities, by sector of activity. There are eight of them: the multisectoral, in which cafeteria staff rub shoulders with community organizations; the municipal; government agencies, such as the Société des casinos and the Palais des Congrès; public safety, including accommodation for correctional officers; the school sector, which includes support staff from school service centres, including the two English school boards; CEGEPs and their support staff; transport, which includes both public transport and the transport of goods; and finally, school transport.
From cradle to coffin
It is easy to understand that such an assortment of sectors and unions necessarily generates a wide range of jobs and occupations. “We are used to claiming that our members work from the cradle to the coffin, likes to say Benoit Malenfant, president of the FEESP, since we have members who work with early childhood and others who are cemetery employees. . »
Does such diversification lead to similar decentralization, particularly in terms of collective agreement negotiations?
“The answer is yes and no,” replies Mr. Malenfant. Nearly two-thirds of our members have the Government of Quebec as their employer, and in this case, negotiations take place at the central table, between the Treasury Board and the central unions. The FEESP is then represented by the CSN. “Except with regard to negotiations on working conditions, what we call the normative, which they take place at sectoral tables.
The pandemic has shaken our public services and shown us how fragile they are. We must avoid reacting with austerity measures and instead choose to strengthen our public services […] which implies a remuneration commensurate with the challenges.
As for FEESP-affiliated unions whose employer is not the Quebec government, “they must negotiate directly with their employer,” explains Benoit Malenfant. For example, a union representing municipal employees will negotiate with its municipality. The president clarifies that they are not, however, abandoned to their own fate. “Our affiliated unions can rely on the FEESP’s permanent team and its expertise in collective agreement negotiation, just as they can count on this same team in other areas, such as group insurance and the processing and resolution of grievances. »
Priority files
In addition to supporting its 425 affiliated unions, the FEESP works with them on various files that it considers priorities. First and foremost, occupational health and safety. She has recently been particularly interested in the changes that came into force following the adoption last fall by the National Assembly of the Act to modernize the occupational health and safety system. “New regulations have been added,” says Benoit Malenfant. The FEESP remains vigilant to ensure that these new regulations are properly applied in the workplace. »
Another subject, which has really surfaced with the pandemic, is that of teleworking. “This is not suitable for all trades, but in cases where it is possible, the question is whether it will take root permanently,” underlines Mr. Malenfant. And if this is the case, how will it then be treated within the new collective agreements? »
The post-COVID recovery is also part of the files that occupy Benoit Malenfant. “The pandemic has shaken our public services and shown us how fragile they are,” said the president. We must avoid reacting with austerity measures and instead choose to strengthen our public services. This strengthening inevitably depends on the State’s ability to attract and retain staff, which implies remuneration commensurate with the challenges. »
Finally, the trade unionist does not deny that the pandemic has had negative effects on union mobilization, and he wishes to correct this state of affairs. “For almost two years, we met virtually,” he says. In meetings where people present themselves in the flesh, during breaks and at the end of meetings, there are informal conversations between the participants, conversations that are sometimes very fruitful. This dimension is absent during meetings on Zoom, which inevitably has an effect on union mobilization. »
Celebrating the 75th
Among the files to come, there is the upcoming holding of the Federal Council, which will take place from May 3 to 5 in Rivière-du-Loup. In addition to current affairs, the Federal Council will be an opportunity to highlight the 75and anniversary of the FEESP. In fact, it was in 1947 that the Federation of Municipal Unions was founded, the ancestor of the current FEESP.
“We have evolved a great deal since then, and our field of action today largely exceeds that of the municipalities,” concludes Mr. Malenfant. We are going to take advantage of the Federal Council to highlight this development through video testimonials from former members of the FEESP, and we are going to celebrate the event by organizing a banquet in the evening on May 4th. »