Dear colleagues,
Summer is at our doorstep at last! We are hoping that the correction period will not be too strenuous for any of you. Our advice: take it one step at a time.
In this bulletin you will find a report from the last CRT meeting. Also, FNEEQ has adopted a series of principles to help guide the planning of the fall semester. And of course, we include a few other blurbs to keep you informed, including information concerning insurance and potential tax deductions.
We have asked for a meeting with senior admins to plan for autumn. The last time we met with them was fruitful, and we wanted to make it a regular occurrence. The current situation makes this meeting even more important as we need to state our priorities to the college. In this sense, we would like to remind you to send us any concerns you may have, before June 8th, so we can relate them to the administration when we meet them.
Stay safe.
Funds for departments for retiring teachers
The 150$ VCTA funding to celebrate a retiring teacher still stands. Given that departments cannot necessarily have a traditional departmental “party”, you are welcome to buy your retiring colleagues things online. Food, flowers, gifts and online cards – to be sent to their homes, on behalf of the department – are all good. Let the VCTA know of your intentions. Send us the receipts (photos, scanned, digital) and we will reimburse you for them. A single reimbursement will be issued and sent by snail mail.
Report from CRT
Unexpected expenses and tax deductions
The college will compensate for newly added household services such as high speed internet: contact your Dean. Also, other expenses, not covered by the College (e.g. part of electricity), could be subject to a tax deduction or credit. The College is willing to issue necessary tax forms. (See Tax Deduction Info below for more details.)
Summer school
Registration dates: June 10th & 11th. Classes will run from June 17th to July 31st. The college refuses to pay Cont Ed teachers for adapting their summer courses for online teaching. They also will not use Cont Ed charges in the summer.
The administration is expecting that teachers will not use all their teaching time for synchronous classes. Teachers can modify the ponderation of their courses and plan for asynchronous activities to free up time for student support.
Refusing Summer Courses
The College will evaluate any request for refusals on a case by case basis (medical, age, children, etc.). Refusals that are approved would be recognized for seniority & experience, but not pay.
Fall 2020
Availability starts on Aug 17th, and the first day of classes is Aug 24th. The administration is trying to change the RREC (Règlement sur le régime des études collégiales) to make the semester 14 weeks which would provide an extra week for teachers to adapt their courses before starting classes online. A lot will still depend on the Ministry’s recommendations regarding on-campus activities.
Tax Deduction Info
For more information about the tax deductions related to distance working, see the following links. The college said they would issue the required forms to include with our declarations for next year.
Provincial (TP-64.3-V)
https://www.revenuquebec.ca/en/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/faq-for-individuals/
Especially section “Employment expenses related to teleworking”.
Federal (T2200)
General overview (en français)
Principles adopted by FNEEQ
FNEEQ has adopted the following principles at the last Bureau fédéral meeting on Friday, 15 May. They are also discussing these priorities with the MEES and the Fédération des cégeps.
- 1) That the Bureau fédéral adopt the following 6 statements as general orientations for the FNEEQ toward the start of the fall semester:
- 1.1. Assure the security of schools and higher education environments, and pay special attention to the psychological well-being of every member while following recommendations from the WHO before considering lifting restrictions;
- 1.2. Give priority to the stability and, as much as possible, to the predictability of teaching activities until December while planning for the fall 2020;
- 1.3. Establish, with unions, national boundaries and local terms to prepare for the return in the fall and for the whole semester;
- 1.4. Garantee equity between students, teachers and institutions;
- 1.5. Respect the autonomy and professional judgement of teachers;
- 1.6. Raise the funding of schools and higher education networks in the context of an economic bounce-back while preserving jobs. Pay for the work required to adapt teaching to distance learning.
- 2) That the Bureau fédéral mandate the coordinators of the Regroupements to define the specific application of these statements of principles for each of them.
Négo News
On Wednesday, May 20, the Treasury Board deposited a formal offer at the central table, which mostly reproduced their informal offer of April 26. The attached Le Point sur la négo (CSN) details the salary offer (April 1st 2020: 1.75% + lump sum payment prorated to hours worked — April 1st 2021: 1.75% + lump sum payment prorated to hours worked — April 1st 2021: 1.5% + for rankings 12 to 28 and one increase in fixed amount of $ 0.40 per hour for rankings 1 to 11 – note that as Cegep teachers, we are at ranking 23).
The negotiations at the sectoral table will proceed with moneys set aside from the central table (for the CSN – Cegep sector, at this moment, a total of 5.7 M$, of which 2.85 M$ is recurrent). There have been two Regroupement Cégeps (this week and last week) where negotiation priorities have been debated. Monetary demands primarily center on improving working conditions of non-tenured teachers. These upcoming sectoral table meetings may be blitz-like: quick, efficient and targeted to use words heard at the Regroupement.
FNEEQ École et Société Reports
Attached, you will find two reports from FNEEQ’s “Comité École et Société.” Unfortunately, we do not have English translations. The reports contain analysis of our experiences of teaching this past semester, and recommendations as we look forward to possible scenarios for the autumn.
Insurance Info
As of May 25th La Capitale is rolling out major improvements to its online services and processing systems for healthcare claims. According to them: “These improvements will allow us to accelerate claim processing times, provide participants easier access to their files, and an improved and simplified customer experience.” More info:
http://app.dialoginsight.com/T/OFSYS/SM2/693/2/S/F/5646/75111/ssALDcAY/742275.html
Also, the Info Insurance #26 (attached in French and English) talks about the lower use of services and the possibility of a reduction in premiums for next year or of a direct reimbursement – to be voted on in the fall.
New retirees
FNEEQ has a retirees Association: AREF. http://www.aref-neq.ca/
If you wish to avail yourself of the insurance plans (travel, health, life), you only have 30 days from your official retirement date to do so. You have to be an AREF member, and maintain that membership. Enrollment is optional, but the decision not to enroll is irrevocable.
Reminders
2 June – Grades submission deadline
12 June – Last day of availability for day teachers