VCTA Executive Re-Elected
We would like to thank everyone who participated in this year’s VCTA election. With your support, members have voted to re-elect the current executive, who will continue their work in the upcoming term.
We are truly grateful for the confidence you’ve placed in us. As always, we remain committed to representing you—advocating for your rights, addressing workplace concerns, fostering transparency, and promoting solidarity across our community. We look forward to continuing this important work together in the year ahead.
A special thank you goes out to Martin Siberok, Bruce Norton, Maria de Palma, Mohamed Tavakoli, and Sheree Sitahal for their efforts behind the scenes in ensuring that the election process ran smoothly and without a hitch.
Thank You to Our Faculty Representatives — and Call for Volunteers
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all faculty members who stepped up to serve on this year’s Academic Council, Association Council, and CRT. Your time, energy, and commitment help ensure that faculty voices remain central in key decisions affecting our college community.
There are few remaining spots to fill —so if you are interested in getting involved, please send us an expression of interest by Friday, May 16th (4:00pm) at vcta@vaniercollege.qc.ca – we would love to hear from you!
ACADEMIC COUNCIL
Carmelina Macri, At Large
Maggie Kathwaroon, At Large
Philippe Gagné, Faculty of General and Specialized Education
Brock Hanly, Faculty of General and Specialized Education
Stefan Bracher, Faculty of Science and Technology
Natalia Delgado, Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences
Toby Moneit, Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences
TBA, Faculty of Science and Technology
ASSOCIATION COUNCIL
Katherine Collin, At Large
Philippe Gagné, At Large
Sean Gauthier, Faculty of General and Specialized Education
Heather Robb, Faculty of General and Specialized Education
Estelle Lamothe, Faculty of Science and Technology
Stefan Kuch, Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences
Joel Casseus, Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences
TBA, Faculty of Science and Technology
TBA 1, At Large
TBA 2, At Large
TBA 3, At Large
TBA 4, At Large
CRT
Marianne Lynch, Faculty of General and Specialized Education
Joel Casseus, Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences
TBA, Faculty of Science and Technology
TBA 1, At Large
News and Updates from Fneeq and the Reseau
Below is a summary of recent updates and key issues under discussion across the sector.
Provincial Legislation: Potential Impacts on the CEGEP Network
Two new pieces of provincial legislation were recently tabled, each with potentially far-reaching implications for the college network:
· Bill 100 seeks to revise the structure and rules governing collective bargaining. It would enhance the authority of the Treasury Board and could lead to the elimination of the CPNC structure. If adopted, it may redefine the division between central and sectoral matters and reduce the capacity to establish or maintain local agreements.
· Bill 101 proposes changes to labor laws and regulations. These may affect the grievance and arbitration processes and introduce new requirements or procedures related to internships (stages).
Further analysis of both bills is expected in June, but preliminary readings suggest they could significantly reshape the current negotiation framework.
Academic Freedom and Ministerial Accountability
Academic freedom remains a key concern within the network. A recent presentation highlighted growing challenges to academic autonomy and emphasized the importance of defending this core value within the CEGEP system.
This issue is also central to ongoing reactions to the Ministry-led investigations at Vanier and Dawson Colleges. While the interview phase of these investigations appears to have concluded, no formal updates on the process have been released. In light of these developments, many local unions have expressed solidarity with the affected institutions and have called for the investigations to be cancelled.
In a related move, a motion was passed requesting that FNEEQ formally call for the resignation of Minister Pascale Déry. The motion cites concerns over the Minister’s public comments on academic freedom and a perceived lack of support for the college and university sectors. Other federations—including FP, FESP, and FQPPU—are expected to adopt similar positions.
Budget Reductions and Financial Pressures
CEGEPs across the province continue to grapple with the effects of successive budget cuts. Reductions have been announced in several funding envelopes, including continuing education, MOAB (equipment and operational funding), and research grants. Resources for student support services (EESH) have not increased in line with salary adjustments, resulting in a reduction in effective service delivery. Hiring freezes and stricter caps on billable hours are also affecting day-to-day operations. Additional cuts may follow a meeting in early May between the Ministry and the Fédération des cégeps.
MED (Mise en disponibilité): Information for Members
At the May 1 CRT meeting, the College informed the VCTA that, due to a projected decline in enrolment in certain disciplines, it may be necessary to place one or more teachers on availability (MED). However, before taking this step, the College is actively considering a range of alternatives—such as short-term internal projects or alternative assignments—in an effort to avoid or delay the need to declare a MED.
“Mise en disponibilité” (MED) refers to the status of a tenured teacher who is placed on availability, most often as a result of declining student enrolment or the closure of a program. Teachers are typically notified between May 1 and May 31 if they are being placed on availability for the following academic year.
When the number of permanent teachers in a discipline exceeds the number of available full-time positions (and full-time replacement loads), the teacher with the least seniority must be placed on availability. These teachers retain salary protections—typically 80% of their salary—and become eligible for relocation to another CEGEP through the Placement Office, which coordinates system-wide job redistribution.
Teachers on MED have several options, including voluntary relocation, retraining for another discipline, or in some cases, employability measures such as severance packages or pre-retirement leave. If no suitable placement is available, salary protections and benefits remain in place, and the teacher may be offered part-time work or alternative professional duties.
If you believe you may be affected by MED, we strongly encourage you to speak directly with a member of the VCTA executive. Your rights, options, and timelines are clearly defined in the collective agreement, and the union is here to support and guide you through the process.
Reminder: PD Rollover Requests Due June 1
Tenured and non-tenured faculty who wish to roll over their 2024–2025 professional development (PD) funds to the following academic year must submit their request no later than June 1.
To request a rollover, simply complete the standard PD request form and write “Please roll over” in the description box. No additional explanation is required—once submitted, we will take care of the rest.
You can download the form to Request PD Funds here.
What Is a PD Rollover?
A rollover allows you to combine two consecutive years of PD funds to support one larger activity—most commonly, attending a conference that would exceed the budget of a single year.
· For tenured teachers, the funds must be used exclusively for a single event, and the request must be submitted in advance of the event. The activity can take place in either year, but no other PD funding will be granted during that two-year period. This rollover is permitted only once and cannot be used to combine multiple separate activities.
· Non-tenured teachers may also request a rollover. However, their request can only be finalized once their workload for the second year is confirmed. At that point, PD funds are prorated based on their confirmed workload. If you anticipate not having a workload next year, we recommend using your current year’s funds before they expire.
If you have any questions about the rollover process or whether your intended use is eligible, please don’t hesitate to contact the VCTA.
Dates of Upcoming Meetings