Official publication of the Centrale des syndicats du Québec. Special edition

Transcription

1 Official publication of the Centrale des syndicats du Québec Autumn 2007 Special edition

2 Collegial Notebook Volume 8, No. 1 Autumn 2007 Publication of the Centrale des syndicats du Québec in collaboration with the Fédération des enseignantes et enseignants de cégep (FEC), the Fédération du personnel professionnel des collèges (FPPC) and the Fédération du personnel de soutien de l enseignement supérieur (FPSES) Sherbrooke St. East, Montréal (Québec) H1L 6P3 Phone: Fax: girard.claude@csq.qc.net Director of Communications: Louise Rochefort Chief Editor: Redaction: Mario Beauchemein, France Bernier, Collaboration: Lucie Hallé, Gabriel Danis Translation: Carolyn Perkes Assistant secretary: Lise Meunier Revision: Martine Lauzon Graphic design: Johanne Boucher Assistant director, production and distribution: Louise Rochefort Assistant of scriptovisual production: Louisette St-Gelais Photographs: François Beauregard, Line Coulombe, Marie-Chantal Le Breton, Stéphane Lemire Prepress: Graphiscan Printing: Transcontinental Circulation: 1100 copies Deposited with: Bibliothèque nationale du Québec National Library of Canada Second trimester 2007 ISSN: Collegial Notebook archives: The CEGEP network: 40 years Forty years of union and professional commitment Enthusiasm! That s the word that comes to mind when we recall our beginnings in our CEGEPs as teachers, professionals and support personnel. Pride! When we think of our colleagues who, every day, take up the challenges of teaching, coaching and providing support to young people undertaking a college education. Solidarity! When we watch the union involvement of delegates in the field as they defend and represent the 6,600 members of our three federations. Three words, summed up in a word: commitment. A commitment that reflects the will to support and coach young people at college and the involvement of all these men and women in union action. For forty years, we have been the privileged witnesses to the development of an institution that has given a considerable number of young people access to higher education, young people who until the establishment of the CEGEPs had been excluded. We thought that this special 40 th anniversary should pay tribute to the people who have been and will continue to be the artisans of an institution that is essential to the education of young Quebeckers. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the CEGEPs means celebrating the existence of a network that allows young people, without geographical, cultural or socioeconomic distinctions, to go onto higher education all throughout Québec. The issues underlying this institution s sustainability speak to us now more than ever, and our union action will take its cue from them. Bernard Bérubé, Marie Racine and Mario Beauchemin What s more, we can never say enough to remind people that accessibility of education must also mean accessibility of success. We are now extremely worried about the government s orientations and actions. When growing institutional fees are required of students without any regard for the principle of free access guaranteed in the General and Vocational Colleges Act, when the admission requirements are relaxed without implementing all the conditions required to ensure success for young people who want a college education, when the success rates become the only tool for assessing the educational progress of students, then we have the motives and we see the need to pursue a professional and union commitment that has been ours for forty years now! Thanks to all of you who have contributed, through your commitment, to making the CEGEPs and their network what they are today! And thanks to those of you who have committed to carrying on the work! Photo : François Beauregard FÉDÉRATION DU PERSONNEL DE SOUTIEN DE L'ENSEIGNEMENT SUPÉRIEUR (CSQ) Forty per cent in funding for forty years in the CEGEPs! In this respect, the under-funding of the CEGEP network is undoubtedly the major obstacle to implementing the educational mission of the CEGEPs. Should we be surprised that many of us are increasingly aware of the erosion of the network? In fact, the administrative autonomy of the CEGEPs undermines the very mission of the CEGEP network. Guaranteeing the accessibility of a college education must have the same meaning for everyone, whether they live in the regions or urban centres. The situation of small CEGEPs requires that we show some boldness. If we know what the initiatives are, then we need adopt the resources we need to take them. Bernard Bérubé, president Fédération du personnel professionnel des collèges (FPPC-CSQ) Marie Racine, president Fédération du personnel de soutien de l enseignement supérieur (FPSES-CSQ) Mario Beauchemin, president Fédération des enseignantes et enseignants de cégep (FEC-CSQ) 2 Collegial Notebook Autumn 2007

3 CEGEPs: 40 years of success Often called into question by individuals and organizations with short memories, overwhelmed by countless reforms and cutbacks over the past twenty years, the college network has, however, proven its value and importance in Québec s education system. The creation of the CEGEPs The CEGEPs were founded in 1967, when the government assumed responsibility for education. In fact this sweeping reform of Québec s education system was launched by the passing of the Grande charte de l éducation; (Magna Carta) by the National Assembly in the early 1960s. Guided by the principles of democratization and equal opportunity, the Québec government established polyvalent schools and others throughout Québec, founded 65 school boards between 1961 and 1965, increased statutory subsidies for the classical colleges and universities, and instituted the Commission royale d enquête sur l enseignement dans la province de Québec (the Parent commission). Canadian provinces, including the technical sector. A college diploma boosts the employment rate of these young people by 15% and increases their remuneration by 11%, compared with secondary school graduates. The strong concentration of Québec s population holding a college diploma significantly contributes to reducing social inequalities because it fosters the growth of the middle class. Conclusion For this 40 th anniversary, we now have to hope that the Québec government will provide sufficient funding for the college network and that it will take into account the new reality of teaching practices, the special mission of the colleges, the uncertain status of colleges in the regions and the The work of the Parent commission quickly led to the implementation of a new, original level of instruction, distinct from secondary and university education: general and vocational colleges (CEGEPs). The implementation of this new level of instruction was based on three major goals: raising the population s level of schooling, meeting the strong demand for schooling and improving the quality of vocational and technical education. That is how, in 1967, the first twelve CEGEPs were founded (Maisonneuve, Ahuntsic, Édouard-Montpetit, Valleyfield, Lionel- Groulx, Outaouais, Sainte-Foy, Limoilou, Chicoutimi, Jonquière, Rimouski and Abitibi-Témiscamingue). Today, Québec s network of CEGEPs includes 59 colleges and education centres. These colleges have been accomplishing their mission every day for the past forty years. The success of the CEGEPs The CEGEPs have accelerated schooling, and far from slowing the progress of young Quebecers in the education system, the CEGEPs have stemmed the trend of dropping out of school earlier, for more students than in the other Canadian provinces. Far more secondary school graduates continue beyond this level in Québec than in other regions of Canada. 1. Québec is thus far ahead of other Canadian provinces in terms of postsecondary graduation rates, mainly because, and mainly thanks to the CEGEPs, 85% of secondary school graduates pursue education at this level in Québec. Moreover, 70% of young Quebeckers aged 25 to 29 years have obtained a college or university diploma. In the colleges alone, Québec ranks first among Photo François Beauregard unhealthy competition in which colleges in the major urban centres are engaged. Mario Beauchemin President of the FEC 1 Pierre Fortin, Nathalie Havet and Marc Van Audenrode, L Apport des cégeps à la société québécoise: un résumé de l étude, Montréal, Groupe d analyse,april 2004, p. 2. Collegial Notebook Autumn Mario Beauchemin

4 Editor s note: Interviews with Ms.Annie Berthiaume and Mr. Jean-Luc Lavoie were conducted at a meeting on October 4 in Granby.The two activists shared their view of union life.these interviews convey their views. Jean-Luc Lavoie Photo Line Coulombe Professional and union activist from the very beginning Jean-Luc Lavoie remembers the founding of the first unions The first three unions of CEGEP professionals were founded in A year later, I played an active role in founding the Syndicat du personnel des professionnels du Cégep de Saint-Jérôme and I have always been very involved in union action. Today, when I look back at the long road travelled, I take the greatest pride in seeing that CEGEP professionals now benefit from acceptable working conditions. Academic advisor for more than thirty years at Cégep de Saint-Jérôme, and for several years at Collège Gérald-Godin, but also a dedicated union activist throughout all those years, Jean-Luc Lavoie has been a frontline witness to the major events that have shaped the history of the Fédération du personnel professional des collèges (FPPC-CSQ). He is currently working on the history of the FPPC. This philosophy teacher who became an academic advisor has never forgotten the era in which professionals were not officially recognized at all. During the early 1970s in the colleges, it was as though professionals literally did not exist. I remember when the Ministère announced salary increases for college personnel groups. I had asked an administrator how much I would be entitled to. He answered, word-for-word: You won t be getting anything because you are nothing, which summed up the status of professionals in the colleges of the era, says Jean-Luc Lavoie. The emergence of union awareness But things didn t stay that way for long. Professionals became aware of the need to join forces to gain the right to negotiate their salaries and working conditions. In 1973, the first unions representing professionals were founded at Cégep de Limoilou, Cégep du Vieux Montréal and Cégep Édouard-Montpetit. A few months later, union members held their first strike. Here at Cégep de Saint-Jérôme, our union hadn t yet been formed, but was established soon after. A few months later, the dismissal of three professionals made us aware of the need to found our union to stop the employer from taking arbitrary action. In 1975, the federation, consisting of seven unions, was founded, recalls Jean-Luc Lavoie. High expectations for negotiations A key historic date: the FPPC reached its first negotiated collective agreement in Negotiations were not easy. Negotiating and reaching the agreement was a painful process. We were new unions within a new federation and our members wanted everything. In the end, we secured an agreement that most of our members were happy with, the unionist recalls. Bitter memories of 1982 Of all the negotiations in which he took part, Jean-Luc Lavoie says that 1982 was without doubt the most difficult. Québec was experiencing one of the worst economic crises of its history. Mortgages on houses were being renewed at record rates of over 20%, and many people lost their homes. College administrations decided to take advantage of the opportunity to require unions to agree to concessions that in other contexts would have been unacceptable: employer s right to determine transfers, to arbitrarily change work schedules and so forth. Finally, the government concluded negotiations with an order-in-council imposing salary cuts of 20% over three months, remembers Jean-Luc Lavoie. Union battles that counted The outcome of negotiations left a bitter taste in the mouths of public sector workers. Many college professionals wondered if the previous ten years of union struggles had been worth it, when special legislation was all that was needed to impose significant setbacks. This special legislation would not be the last time. Nevertheless, 25 years later, Jean-Luc Lavoie remains convinced that the overall record of union endeavours over the years is a positive one, because they resulted in better salary and working conditions for professionals and helped shaped the colleges. Information officer CSQ 4 Collegial Notebook Autumn 2007

5 Significant gains thanks to previous generations Young members have a duty to defend the public services! If, as workers, we benefit from gains, it s because there were good unions and members who didn t hesitate to fight for them. I think that young members are indebted to those who preceded them and that they must acknowledge this by showing themselves to be just as ready to defend our public services. Academic advisor and guidance counsellor at Cégep de Granby - Haute-Yamaska, Annie Berthiaume is starting out in a profession she loves. At the same time, she also decided to get involved as a union activist, and she plans to carry on throughout her career. A member of the executive of the Syndicat des professionnelles et professionnels du Cégep de Granby - Haute-Yamaska, she wanted to share her view of unionism with us. Like a lot of young members, unionism did not come naturally to me. I think that we have that attitude because we are not hungry enough. Like most people of my generation, I was told throughout my college education that I would have to prepare for a difficult future. That s why my current professional situation is a pleasant surprise, explains Ms. Berthiaume. A threatening school of thought The young woman doesn t hesitate to say she considers herself very fortunate. She realizes she owes many benefits to the preceding generations who engaged in the union battles that were required to secure such gains. But these gains won t necessarily be there tomorrow. If we want to preserve them, my generation will have to agree to stand in solidarity and fight in turn. Personally, I feel I am called upon to get involved because of the rise of a right-wing movement that advocates privatizing public services and reducing the role of government. It s this school of thought that threatens our working conditions and that wants to set us back, claims Ms. Berthiaume. Unions are still essential The unionist says she is convinced that unions are still essential today more essential than ever. Giving up on unionism would mean giving up, as workers, on defending our interests and placing our fate in the hands of third parties. That is unthinkable and that is why I am determined to encourage my colleagues to get involved in their union, insists Ms. Berthiaume. Awarenessraising about union history a necessity Annie Berthiaume believes it important to point out that it is up to the baby-boom generation to prepare young members to ensure union renewal. The new generation must be made aware of union history. Young members need to have a better understanding of the battles led by unions to improve working conditions of workers, and of the role unions played in building a more human, fair society of greater solidarity. If we can do that, I am convinced that we will develop a union spirit among young members, concludes the young professional. Information officer CSQ Annie Berthiaume Photo Stéphane Lemire Collegial Notebook Autumn

6 Our union struggles helped make the world a better place! Diane Lefebvre The unions as a force helped all public sector employees, particularly CEGEP personnel, to move forward from a time when there was virtually no protection to today s context, in which we enjoy much more human working conditions. Laboratory technician in the biology department of Collège François-Xavier-Garneau where she has worked for 35 years until retiring on July 3, 2007, Diane Lefebvre was an active union member with the Syndicat du personnel de soutien du CEGEP François-Xavier- Garneau. She served several terms as union president, from 1977 to 1979, from 1982 to 1983 and from 1997 to Our union had only existed for three months when I took on the role of president for the first time. At the time, Collège François-Xavier-Garneau was only a small college, housed in one building. Today, there are seven buildings. To say, things have changed. The college was subject to paternalist management, and we weren t in a position to deal with serious issues, recalls Diane Lefebvre. A long road travelled Support staff had to form their own union. For this reason, in 1977, their representatives asked the three union confederations, the CEQ, the CSN and the FTQ, to meet with them to learn about the benefits of joining a union. In the end, members nearly unanimously chose to join the CEQ, today the CSQ. Working conditions before the union: unpaid overtime, promotions without consideration of years of service, minimum quality of service, no maternity leave, private pension plans and so forth. The least we can say is that we have made a lot of progress since then. However there are still some problems to solve for support personnel, says the former union president. Challenges ahead Among the remaining major issues to be dealt with, Diane Lefebvre cites heavy workloads and the need to strengthen job security, reduce the number of part-time employees and maintain pay equity for women. I also think that it will be necessary to reflect further on the concept of work-family balance, and broaden the definition of family. Until now, we have only talked about parents responsible for young children. However, I think that we also need to think about older employees who are caregivers for their aging parents. Many are in this situation, and they have been overlooked when in fact, they also need work-family balance measures, asserts Diane Lefebvre. Diane Lefebvre A demanding life Remembering her years of union commitment, Diane Lefebvre readily admits that it was very demanding in personal terms. A unionist s life, when you have young children at home, is not easy. Endless meetings ended late in the evening, and the next day, without much rest, you had to go to work. Now that quality of life has become such a basic value for the new generation, unions will have to fight to secure more union leaves to encourage the involvement of younger members, says Ms. Lefebvre. Union solidarity a moving experience Diane Lefebvre s most moving memory of union commitment, one that she does that she particularly values, was the massive demonstration held in front of the National Assembly in Québec City on May 6, 2005, a gathering of over 100,000 people. Such a strong display of union solidarity is really moving. You have the impression of changing the world. I sincerely think that unionized workers have changed the world, in the course of their struggles, she concludes. Information officer CSQ Photo Marie-Chantal Le Breton 6 Collegial Notebook Autumn 2007

7 Union solidarity: A value that must be passed on Émilie Francoeur, collège François-Xavier-Garneau I ve only been actively involved in my union for a few months and I intend to pursue my union commitment for many years. I firmly believe that solidarity among colleagues is more essential than ever and that it must be expressed through a local, dynamic union. Information technician for four years with the Service des communications du Collège François- Xavier-Garneau in the Québec City region, since last May, Émilie Francoeur has occupied the position of advisor to the executive committee of her local union, affiliated with the Fédération du personnel de soutien de l enseignement supérieur (FPSES-CSQ). In her view, union commitment goes without saying at a time when many baby-boomers are retiring and young members people will be required to form a new generation of professionals and union members. As young members, we will be inheriting the employment conditions that our predecessors in the public sector had to fight very hard to win. Young members would be seriously mistaken in thinking that these conditions have been secured for an indefinite period of time. We have to continue the fight, not only to preserve them but also to improve them, explains Ms. Francoeur. A union reality that young people are not fully aware of The young information technician believes that older members have a duty to pass on their union legacy to young people starting out in the profession. The reality is that many younger people don t fully understand unionism. So it is understandable that they do not really grasp the usefulness of union activism. The elders are responsible for passing down their union values to us. That was exactly my experience when I arrived at Collège François-Xavier-Garneau when colleagues helped me integrate into the group while at the same time initiating me to the various union mechanisms, states Émilie Francoeur. Values to be passed on The young activist thinks that the best way of handing down this union legacy to the upcoming generation is through mentoring. Union renewal does not just happen, people have to know how to prepare it. The best way to go about it is for the union to make the integration of a newcomer into the workplace easier, by assigning the person a mentor. It s a matter of helping the newcomer integrate into the workplace and at the same time, helping the person understand the union values that have helped shape the environment in which Émilie Francoeur he or she is practising his/ her profession, points out Ms. Francoeur. Forty years after the CEGEPs were founded, Émilie Francoeur is someone who believes that unionism has a raison d être now more than ever, and she plans to play an active role in her workplace to ensure the continuity of solidarity and fairness, values that are at the heart of union action. Information officer CSQ Collegial Notebook Autumn Photo Marie-Chantal Le Breton

8 For a shared vision of a more just society Jean-Paul Raîche would like to see the union movement take the offensive Jean-Paul Raîche Photo Stéphane Lemire The union movement must stop reacting and fighting unjust laws and instead move on, and become more pro-active in defending a common vision of society. We have to learn to unite, not so much around what we disagree with but behind a concept of solidarity, fairness, justice and democracy that we share and on which we want to build and improve our society. Philosophy teacher until last spring at Cégep de Drummondville, when he left to retire, Jean-Paul Raîche has a long experience of union activism. In fact, everything began in a Quebec quite different from today, a Quebec that was simmering, in a climate that led to the events of October Then it was easy to bring teachers together. We wanted to change the world, and our demands aimed to improve our working conditions and to change society. The unions fought for their members and for the most disadvantaged of society. That was the spirit in which the Front commun demanded a minimum weekly wage of $100 and the construction of social and community housing, recalls Jean-Paul Raîche. Defining our own ideology The activist is open about that fact that he misses a unionism of social concern and that he sees there isn t much of it today. The unions must get back to the basics of social concerns, while not neglecting the issues that directly affect their members. We have to find the political position to do this. Instead of reacting to neo-liberal ideology, we have to define our own ideology and promote it, to mobilize people, points out Jean-Paul Raîche. Time to think Mr. Raîche says he believes that if unions once again start to fight not only for their members, but also for others, once again they will win over public opinion. I believe it is an error to think that the reason our members are not mobilized lies with the imposition of orders in council. There is a deeper reason. We don t have any motivating or mobilizing causes to offer them. I think we need to take the time to reflect together and define our own vision of society. Afterwards, we will be able to ground our demands in this vision, says Mr. Raîche. A greater democracy The unionist explains that at the heart of this vision, we have to find a way of calling for greater involvement of civil society in political decision-making. Democracy has to be much more than voting once every four years. Civil society must be able to get involved in other ways. One example that could serve as a guide is the establishment of committees to manage watersheds, where citizens have input on how water is managed in their area. This is a form of participatory governance which should inspire other models in other areas of activity, explains Jean-Paul Raîche. Taking up the environmental initiative Mr. Raîche asserts that protecting the environment could serve as a social catalyst that would allow unions to strengthen their ties with society. We will never mobilize people behind a refusal of neoliberalism. We are not fighting for something we refuse, but to defend something that belongs to us. In this way, we have to put forward our ideas, advance them not only within our ranks but also in public, and win over as many citizens as we can to convince them that our common interest is at stake, explains Jean-Paul Raîche. The unionist is convinced that this kind of approach would allow us to revitalize union energy and commitment among younger and older members alike. Information officer CSQ 8 Collegial Notebook Autumn 2007

9 It s up to the new generation to carry on the fight. - Nadine Bédard St-Pierre, cégep de Sainte-Foy Public sector unions have a long way to go before concluding the fight. Despite major victories won in recent decades, there are still some important battles to be fought on other fronts, and it will be up to the new generation to take responsibility for them. Political science teacher for the past four and a half years at Cégep de Sainte-Foy, Nadine Bédard St-Pierre is one of the new teachers who are forming the new union generation. Young people cannot rest on the laurels of the victories won by their elders. There are still many other issues to be addressed with respect to our working conditions and enhancing recognition of our professions. In fact, we need to move from quantitative demands to more qualitative demands, says Ms. Bédard St-Pierre. Validating the teaching profession Nadine Bédard St-Pierre is thinking of the need to validate the teaching profession which appears to be less and less appealing. The work organization model is outdated and no longer reflects today s reality. I think it s time to review this model, which has always been unilaterally defined by the employer, and make it more flexible. A review should take into account a concept such as work-family balance, as well as heavier and more complex duties, says the teacher. Union activism: a good habit Coordinator of the Status of Women Advisory Committee of the Fédération des enseignantes et enseignants de cégep (FEC-CSQ), Nadine Bédard St-Pierre claims that union activism is as good a habit as any to pick up. Union involvement begins by taking part in assemblies, then by playing an active role in an issue, and then you end up running for a position. It s by becoming more and more involved that you become aware of how important the issues are and that you realize they are directly connected to our profession. At that point, how can you not develop a union conscience? the teacher asks. The importance of local union action Nadine Bédard St-Pierre believes that unionism is first of all experienced locally. There is nothing more stimulating than working side by side with our colleagues to help improve our shared working conditions, but also to help change society. In my mind, union action cannot just be the work of elected officials. The members must also be actively involved if we really want to have a beneficial influence on society as workers, Ms. Bédard St-Pierre asserts. Helping to change our society The young union activist also envisages a kind of unionism that is more open to social demands. Union action must transcend immediate demands affecting the employment conditions of members and also embrace broader social demands in order to improve the well-being of all our fellow citizens, Nadine Bédard St-Pierre concludes. CSQ Information officer Nadine Bédard St-Pierre Photo Marie-Chantal Le Breton Collegial Notebook Autumn

10 Photo FAC If someone had told me the story From the first unions to Coalition cégeps With the founding of the CEGEPs, the first college sector unions emerged. In response to the new situation arising from the significant reform education in the wake of the Parent report and the development of unionization in all employment sectors, both in the school and college sectors, in 1967, the Corporation générale des Instituteurs et Institutrices Catholiques de la province de Québec (CIC) became the Centrale de l enseignement du Québec (CEQ). In 1967, following the release of the Parent report, the establishment of the CEGEPs changed Québec by mapping out the democratization of the education system, thereby opening the doors to post-secondary education for thousands of young people. affiliated with the CEQ and the Fédération du personnel de soutien was established. At the time, this federation represented all the different categories of support staff, for all sectors, including the health sector. From the FPS to the FPSES As a result, in 1968, the teachers unions at Cégep Ahuntsic and Cégep Rouyn-Noranda became the first college sector unions to affiliate with the CEQ. In the same year, the Fédération des enseignants du collégial was founded. In 1973, the first college support staff union, the Syndicat du personnel de soutien du Cégep de Granby-Haute-Yamaska, In 1980, the Fédération du personnel de soutien (FPS) was established, bringing together unions for all education support staff. This federation dissolved in 1998 and gave rise to two federations, one for unions in the school sector and the other representing college and university support staff unions, i.e., the present-day Fédération du personnel de soutien de l enseignement supérieur (FPSES). 10Collegial Notebook Autumn 2007

11 The FPPC s turn The Fédération du personnel professionnel des collèges (FPPC) was established in 1974, when the first CEGEP professional union, the Association des professionnelles et professionnels du Cégep Limoilou, affiliated. In 1985, college and university professionals united within one federation. Finally, in 1993, the two groups resumed their previous status as an autonomous federation, and the FPPC was created. In 2001, with the College Notebook, a joint publication of the three college-sector federations in collaboration with the CSQ, the federations developed closer ties. By respecting their differences, the federations developed the political will to work together in order to better defend the interests of their members and ultimately, to secure conditions conducive to student success. A vibrant Coalition cégeps Working in a spirit of solidarity, to build more effective opposition to the threats with which the CEGEP network is faced, the three college-sector federations joined together in establishing Coalition cégeps in Coalition cégeps unites all union organizations active in the college sector, student associations and the Fédération des associations de parents des cégeps du Québec. A venue for inter-union cooperation, the Coalition has made the under-funding of the CEGEP network its priority for intervention. In late 2006, the Coalition organized a large gathering in Québec City, based on the theme Under-funding has lasted long enough! Let s invest in the CEGEP network. The event meant that students, teachers, professional personnel and support staff, along with parents of every allegiance, found themselves working side by side, and a declaration and an action plan were adopted. In addition to the distribution of the declaration, its adoption by many CEGEP bodies, and the publication of the first Coalition newsletter in February 2007, Coalition cégeps thought it important to celebrate the 40 th anniversary of the CEGEP network. As a result, on October 12, a demonstration was held in front of the Parliament with the theme Total unions affiliated with the CSQ in the college network (2007) Fédération des enseignantes et enseignants de cégep (FEC) 7 40% in funding for 40 years in the network! The goals of this demonstration were to remind the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports of the urgent need to take action to ensure the survival of the CEGEP network and to secure improved conditions for facilitating student success. At the core of our union action These two crucial objectives will continue to be at the core of the union action that our collegesector federations will be undertaking in coming years. Our union and professional commitment attests to the pursuit of these objectives and is guided by the choice we have made to exercise our professions for young people in the CEGEPs. France Bernier CSQ Advisor Fédération du personnel professionnel des collèges (FPPC) 34 Fédération du personnel de soutien de l enseignement supérieur(fpses) (CSQ) The FPSES has 20 unions in the college and university networks. Union resources (due-paying members) Year FEC FPPC FPSES , , , , , , , , , Total number of members in the college and university networks. 2 Idem 3 Idem 4 1,544 member in the college network members in the college network. Collegial Notebook Autumn

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