This text is part of the special 75th anniversary of the FEESP
With more than 40,000 members in the education sector, the FEESP represents the majority of support employees in elementary, secondary, vocational training and adults, as well as in CEGEP. For nearly 50 years, the Federation has worked tirelessly to have the essential role of its members recognized in this sector.
The FEESP has been working for a long time to improve the working conditions of these workers. The first negotiations around the integration of noon hour student supervisors into the collective agreement by the FEESP took place in the early 1980s. In the 2000s, daycare staff were added to the collective agreements.
However, “the recognition of support staff is not obvious. They are often in the shadow of the teachers,” observes Linda Tavolaro, secretary general of the FEESP. Special education technicians, daycare staff, administrative staff (office clerk, secretarial staff), manual workers (janitors, certified workers, plumbers), practical work technicians: the FEESP represents more than 80 job classes. Present in 31 school service centers, 2 English school boards, and bringing together 39 unions in CEGEPs, it offers the largest union representation of support staff in the school environment. The FEESP also represents 70% of CEGEP support staff.
Recognize their essential role
These employees, who work at the elementary, secondary and CEGEP level (the FEESP also represents Concordia University’s support employees), ensure the proper functioning of the establishments behind the scenes. “It takes someone to answer the calls, organize the school transport system, maintain the buildings,” notes Ms.me Tavolaro. Others work in support of the teacher, for example by accompanying students with disabilities or with behavioral difficulties.
However, these personnel have little visibility with parents, management, school service centers or the government. “Wage negotiations with the government are not up to what they should be”, gives as an example Mme Tavolaro. The school sector average salary is $25,000 per year, which means that some support staff earn more, but others earn below the poverty line.
Light on their work
However, the pandemic has clearly demonstrated their essential role: setting up emergency childcare services over a weekend would never have been possible without the mobilization of special education technicians, attendants for handicapped students, janitors, secretaries and other support staff. “They were able to turn on a 10 under. It shows how dedicated these people are,” insists Linda Tavolaro. While the majority of Quebecers were at home, these employees rolled up their sleeves, despite the fear of the virus and the lack of protective equipment. “They provided quality service. It wasn’t just about letting the kids run around the gym! she remarks.
To highlight their essential work, the CEGEP support sector of the FEESP established National Support Staff Day in colleges on April 21, 1999. And since 2004, this day has been expanded to become National Support Staff Day. support in education at the CSN, which takes place on the last Thursday of September.
Keep improving
The FEESP will continue to be on the lookout in the coming years to support its members in the education sector. The supervision of telework and distance education will have to be the subject of in-depth reflection. The teacher assistant pilot project will also be one to watch. “The government would like teachers to have help with their tasks, but we don’t yet know which class of employment this will affect,” notes M.me Tavolaro.
The labor shortage is also hitting this sector hard: due to often atypical schedules and job insecurity, hiring and retaining staff are increasingly difficult.
The FEESP would therefore like to initiate a discussion to reduce precariousness. “There is no magic solution, but the government must address it. We ask that he sit down with us and think about it, ”said Linda Tavolaro. Could the emergency measures tested during the pandemic be expanded and regularized? Could some positions be combined? “The more we offer regular positions and hours, the more we will keep our people. We have to find a way to do things like during the pandemic, but permanently,” concludes Ms.me Tavolaro.