26 March 2021
The FPSS-CSQ denounces efforts they deem temporary
The Fédération du personnel de soutien scolaire (FPSS‑CSQ) welcomes the investment in education announced yesterday in the Girard budget, but is concerned that the planned measures are not recurring.
Despite the sums announced, the breakdown of several of the measures is still unclear and raises concerns that they are only temporary. But the problems resulting from the pandemic, or brought to light by it, will not disappear after two years.
Men still winning over women
While the Quebec Infrastructure Plan now stands at a record sum of $135 billion, nothing concrete has been announced to definitively resolve the precarious status of school support staff, a category of jobs held predominantly by women.
“70% of school support staff have insecure jobs, and most need to have second jobs just to pay their bills. This is utter nonsense in the context of labour shortage!” says FPSS-CSQ President Éric Pronovost.
Smoke and mirrors
The funds announced for education may seem generous, but you need to take a closer look. “Take, for example, the $80 million announced over two years to improve the general condition of school facilities. Divided by the number of schools, this represents an additional annual sum of just over $12,000 per building. We’ve got a long way to go,” laments Pronovost.