Teachers' strike at Laval University: half of the courses affected
The teachers' protest started around 10 a.m. Monday morning.
Members of the Union of Professors of Laval University (SPUL) have been on strike for two weeks since Monday morning. About 50% of the courses offered are affected by this work stoppage, according to the union.
All tasks must be stopped, with some exceptions. So there, we have a little over 1,900 courses that will be affected by the strike for the next two weeks, specifies the president of the Union of Professors of Laval University (SPUL), Louis-Philippe Lampron, in an interview with the 'show First hour.
Beginning of the professors' strike at Laval University
ICI PREMIÈRE SHOW • First hour
On this first day of the strike, the teachers demonstrate on campus. On his social networks, the president of the union, which represents around 1,300 members, called on teachers to join the demonstration en masse.
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The collective agreement has expired since December 1, 2022. Negotiations, which began on September 1 with the management of Université Laval, have not resulted in finding common ground. Management and the union will continue their discussions during the strike.
Since September, 14 meetings have taken place and 9 more are scheduled by March 3, underlines the executive vice-rector and vice-rector for human resources and finance, André Darveau, in a press release. A conciliator was also appointed to the bargaining table at the end of January, at the request of management.
During the strike, the library, the education pavilion Physics and Sports and the Office of Student Life will be open.
Four main points are at the center of the SPUL's demands: work overload, salary increases, greater participation in the development of the establishment's main orientations and the protection of vulnerable employees.
The teaching and learning activities offered by professors affiliated with the SPUL are therefore interrupted until March 3 inclusively, whether they are taught face-to-face, in hybrid mode or remotely.
When we saw that a stalemate was emerging at the table, we tried to make our problems visible and to explain them to the students so that they realized that, in our view, the problems we are trying to solve directly affect the condition of & #x27;learning and success, explains Louis-Philippe Lampron.
The activities offered by other staff members will take place normally. The lecturers are part of a different accreditation, so when they are responsible for a course, they will be able to continue to give their course despite the strike, supports the president of the union.
Members of the Union of Professors of Laval University (SPUL) voted 96% in favor of a two-week strike mandate. It starts on February 20. (File photo)
The association of undergraduate students, CADEUL, has not taken a position on the strike, it says it is neutral. It mainly centers its activities around the communication of information to its student members and the defense of their rights.
We want to make sure to reduce the impact on the session and to make sure that everything goes well for the return to class and for the mid-term exams, indicates the president of CADEUL, Vickie Bourque. She specifies that certain exams can still be taken according to the arrangements made at the beginning of the session.
The association also wants to avoid at all costs an extension of the university session, which could have consequences on the progress of several members of the student community.
At this time, the University does not plan to change the semester schedule. The question comes up often and I want to reassure you, the reading week will take place as planned. We are not considering extending the session either. Such a scenario would be a last resort solution in order to ensure the quality of the teaching received during the session, mentions the management of the University.
Graduate students are a little more affected than undergraduate students, as our classes are mostly given by professors, laments Ghita Hemri, the acting president of the Association of female students and teachers. Laval students enrolled in graduate studies (AELIÉS).
All supervision and research activities are also in principle put on hold. There is no way to organize with the teachers, they have no right to contact us in the context of the strike, relates Ghita Hemri.
Like CADEUL, AELIÉS n' did not take an official position on the strike, but its members voted to support certain SPUL demands. A significant portion of our members understand. The students recognize themselves a little in their demands, underlines the interim president.
The last teachers' strike took place in 2008. In 2017, the Union of Employees of Laval University had been on strike for several weeks of the winter session.
With information from x27;Alex Boissonneault and Julien Fontaine-Doray
