FNEEQ NEWS:
Preliminary reflection on 2020 bargaining issues
It is essential to consult with our members so that we can best represent you at FNEEQ! The reflection attached is meant as a springboard for discussion and it addresses: matters negotiated at the central table; matters negotiated at the sectoral table; Cont Ed; workload and resources; work organization and the evolution of the network; professional autonomy; and what’s next.
- Please carefully read over these so you understand how your issues can be addressed during the 2020 negotiations!
Job insecurity (TELUQ)
Affiliated with l’Université du Québec, the Téluq (Université du Québec: Télé Université) offers distance learning to university students. The union representing the tutors (Syndicat des tuteurs et tutrices de la Télé-université – CSN), that is affiliated with FNEEEQ, have been on an unlimited general strike since January 28, 2019 as they are facing the most precarious working conditions in the network that we know! Because of “virtual teaching” their positions have faced the following difficulties: outsourcing their corrections to cheaper, less qualified labour, reducing the supervision of their students, giving contract positions instead of full-time work (only 9% of the employees have full-time work). Their employer is considering replacing them with a category of employment that would have even less job security than the tutors have at present. Please stay tuned for actions in support of the Téluq tutors.
- For more information: https://fneeq.qc.ca/fr/premiere-manifestation-montrealaise-des-tutrices-et-tuteurs-de-la-teluq-en-greve-generale-illimitee/
Cont Ed
The job insecurity of our Cont Ed Teachers brings other questions of social justice even closer to home. With the idea of deepening the understanding of what working conditions our Cont Ed colleagues face, FNEEQ has organized a questionnaire to help educate us all. How well do you know Cont Ed?
- Please see the attached Cont Ed quiz to participate!
Religious Signs
Last Friday, February 15, your VCTA Executive and Leila Bdeir, as an additional VCTA representative, attended the Extraodinary Federal Council regarding the freedom to wear religious signs in various public sectors of employment. This topic is being raised at FNEEQ due to the Liberals having passed Bill 62 on Religious Neutrality (though currently facing constitutional challenges) which the current CAQ government wants to take further so as to include teachers and other authority figures in the ban. The Premier said he would invoke the “notwithstanding clause” to get beyond constitutional limits (that ensure religious freedom). You may remember that we discussed this issue with you at a Special General Assembly in November, and one of our GA mandates was to ask for an Extraordinary Council at FNEEQ so as to allow colleges more time for consultation of their members. February 15 saw the results of those local consultations, and furthered debate among our FNEEQ members. We are pleased to see that the final FNEEQ position is a shift for the previous 2013 propositions and, while it does not go as far as our GA’s motions, it is a step in the direction of recognizing rights of individuals to practice their religion.
- For comparison, please see the attachment for the former (especially 2013: d, e, and f) and newly passed FNEEQ propositions (2019) on Religious Neutrality.
- For an overview on the CAQ’s position: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/francois-legault-coalition-avenir-quebec-1.4846838
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François Legault would invoke notwithstanding clause to ban hijabs from civil service | CBC News
Quebec’s premier-designate says he is prepared to invoke the notwithstanding clause to enforce a prohibition on any public employee from wearing a religious symbol such as a hijab or kippa in the … |
Zero Plastic Waste
In the January 2019 FNEEQ Newsletter, we were called to reduce plastic waste. Reminded that in Canada, almost 90% of plastics end up in dump sites, or our oceans. it is time to do better! Locally, the VCTA has been making many efforts to reduce waste, by using ceramic plates and real glassware for our events, and by urging the College and the cafeteria to make these choices more prominent.
- Please join our efforts to reduce our plastic footprint! https://davidsuzuki.org/action/zero-waste-pledge/
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| For further details about these items and other FNEEQ news, please consult the FNEEQ site (which can be translated to English): |
LOCAL NEWS:
Student Strike
Last Wednesday, Vanier students organized a half-day strike in support of better conditions for students doing internships, from basic remuneration to accident protection. They worked hard to educate, mobilize and coordinate their efforts and, whatever the particulars of this issue may be, we congratulate our students on getting involved and getting active for injustices they seek to rectify. And they were even on the news! Good exposure for this cause!
Threat on campus
On Thursday, there was an incident regarding a threatening message to student, and an ensuing police presence on campus. Many voices expressed different understandings and there seems to have been some miscommunication. We will be bringing this for discussion at CRT. For the moment, we would like to clarify for everyone, that in the event of an actual lockdown on campus, the protocol in place would have us informed immediately, with the following measures:
- During a lockdown, the following message will be broadcast through the intercom system: “This is a message from Vanier Security. This building is in Emergency Lockdown. Please find shelter wherever you can. Close, lock and barricade the door to any classroom or office. Do not come out until the all clear is given. Thank you.”
Furthermore, for a variety of situations, the Emergency Operation Plan is available on the Vanier website, for which you may want to take a moment and familiarize yourself: