Unlike François Legault, the president of the Autonomous Education Federation has little hope of a return to class on Monday.
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“It’s jovial, not to say completely unrealistic and disconnected from what’s happening at the table [de négociations] since Monday,” declared Mélanie Hubert at a press conference on Thursday morning.
The day before, Prime Minister François Legault said he was hopeful of a settlement soon in the indefinite general strike which has paralyzed nearly 40% of Quebec schools for four weeks now.
The trade unionist describes the talks more like yo-yo sessions, with good and less good days. “The management side listens to us, takes notes, seems to be open. The next day, our proposals were rejected, the discussions closed,” she summarizes.
Much work remains to be done, so a settlement in time for early next week now seems out of reach.
Furthermore, in the event of an agreement, teachers will need a moment before returning to class work.
The FAE and the employer party will have to conclude a return to class protocol in order, possibly, to allow a day of preparation, but also to calculate the impact of the strike on seniority and the impact of the conflict on the conditions provided for in the collective agreement.
“There could be, for example, a day when the teachers go home to prepare for their return,” explains M.me Hubert.
- Listen to the interview with Mélanie Hubert, president of the Autonomous Education Federation (FAE), on Benoit Dutrizac’s show on QUB radio:
Class composition
Despite everything, the president of the FAE recognizes that the negotiations are progressing, even if impasses persist.
Quebec, she deplores, refuses to commit to creating new classes if the groups of students include other students with particular challenges.
Mélanie Hubert recognizes that this request is difficult to implement immediately, due to the labor shortage. “What we are trying to do with the government is to still have written texts so that, as soon as it is possible, it can be put in place,” she explains.
Reaction from Quebec
Even before the end of the press briefing, Thursday morning, the president of the Treasury Board reacted by press release.
“The comments made by the FAE are extremely surprising at this stage,” wrote Sonia LeBel. I am convinced that we have an agreement within reach, but we cannot resolve it alone.”
The government, she assures, has proposed “unprecedented measures which would constitute significant progress for teachers regarding the composition of the class”.
Among these, she notes the evaluation of the heaviness of tasks, the creation of classroom aids and compensation.
“Important steps have also been taken regarding professional autonomy, supervision of recess, personal time and educational days,” she adds, while assuring that the government wants to “resolve quickly.”