Demands that would decrease job security for professional workers - The FPPC-CSQ denounces management offer

MONTRÉAL, Oct. 5, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - The Fédération du personnel professionnel des collèges (FPPC-CSQ), affiliated with the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ), decries the latest management demands presented at the negotiation table, which would have the effect of considerably decreasing job security for members.  

FPPC-CSQ president, Carol LaVack, states that management demands are totally unacceptable and represent a direct attack on the working conditions of professional workers.  

"The management offer is extremely disappointing because the demands do not aim to improve the situation in colleges, but rather to make cuts that would negatively impact the working conditions of our members. It asks workers to go along with college management and the government to proceed with a decline in their working conditions," says Carole LaVack.    

Layoffs and subcontracting 

The president of the FPPC-CSQ adds that management demands are an attempt to open the door to layoffs and possibly force resorting to subcontractors. 

"Including the difficult financial situation of colleges as a motive for additional layoffs is directly linked to cutbacks the government has been imposing for several years. This means that after financially draining colleges in recent years, we should expect several layoffs and positions being abolished," says the union leader.   

Reign of uncertainty  

Every merger or grouping of services with a third party, that is not necessarily another college, could also lead to a reduction in full-time professional workers.  

"The work doesn't disappear along with personnel and still has to be done because the need is still there. We strongly suspect that the employer wants to replace full-time positions with subcontractors. Management demands might therefore create even more uncertainty in our institutions," says Carol LaVack. 

Deteriorating working conditions    

She also adds that if management has its way, working conditions for remaining workers would deteriorate significantly. Planned groupings and mergers would lead to relocations of professionals and job losses in outlying areas.  

"We would be required to accept positions within a 250 km range. It's totally unrealistic and inhuman. You have to be completely out of touch with reality to ask people to travel four hours a day to get to work and back. Individuals affected would have to decide to leave family and friends, and move away."

Strong mobilization in members      

FPPC-CSQ president, Carol LaVack, adds that these management demands are being very poorly received by members, which translates into strong mobilization to prevent the government and college management from pushing working conditions back several years. 

"Professional workers contribute to the quality of public programs by assisting students, teaching personnel and management. We will not let our working conditions be depleted and stripped by people who make no effort themselves and want to sacrifice us to achieve purely ideological objectives," says Carol LaVack.

FPPC-CSQ Profile

The Fédération du personnel professionnel des collèges (FPPC-CSQ) represents nearly 1200 professionals working in 34 colleges. It consists exclusively of professional college staff.

SOURCE Fédération du personnel professionnel des collèges (FPPC-CSQ)

Claude Girard, CSQ Communications Advisor, Phone: [phone], Email: [email protected], Twitter: @csq_centrale