Editors' Vote: Less suspense in FSE than FAE

While suspense is at its peak within the Federation of Autonomous Education (FAE), the trend is more predictable among teachers who are part of the Common Front. Almost half of the local unions have already voted in favor of the agreement reached with the government.

At least 21 local unions of the 33 unions (FSE-CSQ) due to vote on the agreement have already made the results of their votes known.

Of this number, 15 have already voted in favor of the departmental agreement, which details the working conditions of teachers, the organization of groups or the possibility of benefiting from classroom assistance.

The results are close in many places.

For example, in the Grand-Portage Education Union in Bas-Saint-Laurent, teachers are segregated. Teachers at the Fleuve-et-des-Lacs School Service Center (CSS) voted 51% for the agreement, while teachers at CSS Kamouraska-Rivière-du-Loup chose to reject it with 55%.

The FSE, which is part of the General Front, represents about 60% of teachers in Quebec.

Eyes fixed on the FAE

As for the Federation of Autonomous Education (FAE), which represents the other 40% of teachers in the province, we will know today if the deal is approved or if it should go back to the negotiating table.

Note that very tense negotiations between Quebec and teachers have led to several days, even weeks of strikes in some regions.

Votes are split on anything being possible. So far, four unions have approved it and four have rejected it.

For an agreement to be accepted by the FAE, it must be supported by a double majority of members, but at least five local unions out of nine.

So the fate of the contract with the FAE rests on the shoulders of the approximately 3,000 teachers of the Haute-Yamaska ​​Education Union, who are due to vote until today.

There are many teachers He criticized the democratic functioning of the trade union In the last days. Some criticized the length of general meetings, the lack of access to advance agreements, or the fact that different local unions did not all vote at the same time.

For example, the general meeting of the Montreal Teachers' Alliance lasted almost nine hours and ended at about two in the morning on January 18-19.

relative weight

On the FSE side, we assure you that this type of assembly that lasts until late is not a common thing.

“Most teachers received documents in advance,” notes Sylvie Lemieux, FSE news officer.

Many local unions split the process into two stages: a first information evening to present the contract and answer questions, then another to vote.

Also, the function is different from FAE. To be ratified by the FSE, the agreement must be accepted by a majority of “mandates” calculated according to the relative weight of each local union.

Voting by FSE members will continue until February 7 and the final result will be known on February 14.

The results are still visible today

Federation of Teaching Unions (FSE-CSQ) (General Front)

For the contract :

Soudier Education Union: 86%

Vaudreuil Regional Education Union: 64%

Estrie Education Union: 50.5%

Bois-Francs Education Union: 72%

Drummondville Regional Education Union: 65%

Deux-Rives Education Union: 69%

Rivière-du-Nord Education Union: 58.1%

Chagune Educational Union: 67.7%

Laurentides Teachers Association: 57.2%

Pays-des-Bleuets Education Union: 62.9%

Haute Côte-Nord Education Union: 80%

Jonquier Education Union: 77%

Lac-Saint-Jean Teachers' Union: 88%

Champlain Union

CSS des Patriotes: for 57%

CSS Marie-Victorin: 55%

CSS Salaberry: For 72.5%

Midis Regional Education Union

CSS Monts-et-Marées: 88.8%

CSS Des Fores: 79%

Grand-Portage Education Union

CSS du Fleuve-et-des-lacs: 51%

Against the contract:

Lanaudière Education Union: 62%

Vieilles-Forges Education Union: 50.2%

Charlevoix Education Union: 53.7%

Grand-Portage Education Union

CSS Kamouraska-Riviere-du-Loup: 55%

Union of Teachers of Hautes-Rivières

CSS Hautes-Laurentides: 77.3%

CSS Hauts-Bois-de-l'Outauais: 90.2%

Federation of Autonomous Education (FAE)

For contract:

Pointe-de-l'Île Education Union: 59%

Montreal Teachers' Alliance: 54%

Outois Education Union: 58%

West Montreal Education Union: 51%

Contrary to the agreement :

Laval Regional Education Union: 68%

Basses-Laurentides Education Union: 72%

Lordships Education Union: 58%

Quebec Regional Teachers Union: 60%

– In collaboration with Daphnée Dion-Viens from Journal de Quebec