The Fédération des professionnelles et professionnels de l’éducation du Québec (FPPE-CSQ) and the Treasury Board have reached an agreement on the final texts of the new 2023-2028 employment contract.
The agreement, which affects professionals in both Francophone school service centres and Anglophone school boards, is expected to be formally signed within the next two weeks, concluding over a year of negotiations.
Jacques Landry, President of the FPPE-CSQ, highlighted the importance of the negotiations, stating, “The advances achieved through these negotiations, in particular the salary improvements, were made possible by a historic mobilization of professionals throughout Quebec in solidarity with the Front commun.”
Salary Increases and Payments
The intersectoral agreements negotiated by the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ) and the Front commun will result in a 17.4% salary increase for all Quebec professionals over five years.
Professionals can expect to receive a salary scale adjustment payment within 45 days of signing the agreement. Additionally, salary increases retroactive to April 1, 2023, will be paid within 60 days of the signing. Former employees will have 120 days to request retroactive salary increases, which must be paid within 60 days of the request.
Improved Working Conditions
The new collective agreements also bring several improvements to the working conditions of professional education staff. Key gains include enhanced vacation provisions, insurance benefits, telework arrangements, and overtime payment.
Supernumerary employees will see benefits, and there will be partial reimbursement of fees paid to professional orders.
Members holding a master’s degree will receive a 2.5% salary increase, while psychoeducators will receive bonuses for intern supervision and mentoring. Psychologists will also benefit from salary increases and bonuses.
Professionals can review the changes made to the collective agreement on La Passerelle Négo at the FPPE-CSQ website.
Ongoing Northern Negotiations
While celebrating the agreement, the FPPE-CSQ expressed concern over the prolonged negotiations for Northern Quebec teachers.
“Cree and Inuit communities and schools have glaring needs. With this in mind, the unreasonable delays in the Northern negotiations must be denounced, as it is the students and staff who are paying the price,” said Landry.
About the FPPE-CSQ
The FPPE-CSQ represents 19 unions with 12,500 members across nearly all school service centers and school boards in Quebec, including Francophone, Anglophone, Cree, and Kativik communities.
Its members comprise staff in administrative sectors, educational sectors, and direct services to students, including engineers, analysts, education consultants, librarians, psychologists, psychoeducators, speech therapists, audiologists, and guidance counselors.