The Vanier College Teachers’ Association
🎉Welcome Back
We hope you all had a restful summer and that your semester is off to a strong and positive start!
As always, the VCTA office is here to support you. Whether you need information, advice, or representation, we are only a phone call or email away. Before making decisions such as turning down work, we encourage you to consult with us to fully understand the implications.
We can also help with:
· Information about workloads, seniority, and priority
· Questions about salary, leaves, or absences
· Guidance on insurance and pension plans
· Assistance with revaluation of scholarity and/or experience
· Access to Professional Development Funds
· Concerns about health and safety in the workplace
· Help navigating College structures and procedures
Please reach out to us immediately if:
· The administration intends to proceed with an administrative evaluation of your work
· You are summoned to meet with an administrator
· You feel that your rights may have been violated
· You are facing a stressful workplace situation
· You encounter disrespectful or discriminatory interactions with colleagues
All consultations are strictly confidential.
You can find our office in C-101, with hours posted on the door and on our website: www.thevcta.qc.ca. You can also contact us by phone at ext. 7053 or by email at vcta@vaniercollege.qc.ca.
As your union, we remain dedicated to advocating for your rights, supporting your professional needs, and fostering a strong, united community. To stay informed about negotiations and other important issues, keep an eye on our News Bulletins, emails, and announcements for General Assemblies.
Wishing you a productive and rewarding semester ahead!
💸Government Budget Cuts: A Threat to Higher Education
The CSN has denounced the new round of budget cuts imposed on CEGEPs and universities by the CAQ government. Despite public promises to make education a priority, the government has reduced funding by $151 million for CEGEPs and by 0.7% for universities, many of which were already struggling with deficits.
The consequences are serious:
· Hiring freezes and the abolition of positions for support and professional staff
· Limits on paid hours and ceilings on payroll
· Cuts to academic department budgets (including equipment, furniture, and library resources)
· Curtailment of student activities (fewer field trips and extracurricular opportunities)
· Suspension of campus renovation and expansion projects
Students are also directly affected. Access to the Perspectives Québec bursary program has been cut, with no reinvestment of funds into student loans and bursaries. In addition, students in higher education still do not have access to paid internships, despite earlier government promises.
These cuts undermine the quality of education, student support, and the working conditions of all staff. The VCTA stands in solidarity with the CSN and our federation in calling on the government to stop dismantling higher education and to make education a true priority for Quebec’s future.
Public Petition
An online petition has been launched to denounce these cuts. The petition is open to the public and available for consultation here: Petition #11577 – Assemblée nationale du Québec.
Signing is entirely voluntary and at the discretion of each individual. This communication is provided strictly for informational purposes. Any decision to consult or sign rests solely with each member. We share this information because it is public knowledge and accessible to all members of the community.
Flyers Available
If you’d like to help raise awareness, we have plenty of flyers (in both French and English) available at the union office. Feel free to swing by C-101 or N-127 and pick one up to post on your office door.
Show your support and help make our opposition to the cuts visible across campus.
⚠️ Important Notice: Misuse of the “RREGOP” Name
Retraite Québec has informed us that a private company is using the name “RREGOP” to promote financial services to members and contributors. Retraite Québec is not associated with these services.
Steps are being taken to stop the unauthorized use of the name and visual identity, which could be confused with official government sites.
The misleading site is: https://rregopquebec.ca/ (still active at the time of writing).
For reliable information about your pension plan, always consult official Retraite Québec communications and websites. If in doubt, reach out to the VCTA or Retraite Québec directly.
✏️ Join the VCTA
Are you a new teacher at Vanier? We warmly invite you to become a member of the Vanier College Teachers’ Association (VCTA).
The VCTA represents all teachers in both the Day Division and Continuing Education. By joining, you become part of a democratic organization that exists to defend your rights, protect your working conditions, and strengthen our collective voice.
Membership requires a one-time fee of $2 (payable in cash or by e-transfer). Once you join, you are entitled to the full rights and responsibilities of membership.
The VCTA is governed by its members:
· The General Assembly of all VCTA members is the ultimate decision-making body of the union.
· Every member has the right to attend, participate, and vote at General Assemblies.
· Your voice and your vote shape the direction of our union and ensure that teachers’ perspectives are heard.
Joining the VCTA is not only a way to safeguard your rights, but also to stand with your colleagues in building a strong, supportive, and united teaching community.
If you haven’t already joined, stop by C-101 or contact us at vcta@vaniercollege.qc.ca
🙋♂️🙋♀️Call for Volunteers – Association Council
The VCTA is looking for three at-large colleagues to join our Association Council.
Association Council is the VCTA’s decision-making body between General Assemblies. It is made up of the Executive and twelve elected members (six at large and two from each faculty), chosen each April for a one-year term. The Council discusses and decides how the union operates and brings recommendations forward to the General Assembly; discuss priorities, respond to emerging issues, and make decisions on how the union is run
Members of Association Council speak for all teachers while also contributing the perspectives of their own faculties. The Council typically meets every two to three weeks on Thursdays, and all agendas are circulated to the membership in advance.
This is an excellent opportunity to take an active role in representing your colleagues and shaping the direction of our collective work.
If you would like to serve on Association Council, please contact us at vcta@vaniercollege.qc.ca.
💰Professional Development Funds
Did you know that all faculty — full-time and part-time — can apply for Professional Development (PD) funds? The PD Committee (with equal representation from the VCTA and administration) oversees these funds, which support a wide range of activities such as:
· Graduate studies (Master’s or PhD) or other studies/research in your area of specialization
· PERFORMA and other education courses
· Studies in French or English as a second language
· Conferences, colloquia, workshops, or in-house training
For a full list of eligible activities, please visit our website at https://www.thevcta.qc.ca/professional-development-pd/
Key things to know:
· The PD year runs July 1 – June 30. Applications should be submitted by June 1 to be processed before summer.
· Applications must be submitted at least two weeks in advance of the activity. No retroactive funding is possible.
· Tenured teachers may request to combine two years’ worth of funds to attend a conference. Non-tenured teachers may request this too, but only once their workload for the following year is confirmed.
· All applications and expense report forms are available at the VCTA office (C-101).
· After your activity has concluded, you can file an expense report with receipts to be reimbursed for eligible costs. Reimbursements are processed through your paycheck and normally take 4–6 weeks to appear.
Tip: When planning PD-related travel, applicants are encouraged to consider lower-carbon options (e.g. video-conferencing, train travel, carbon offsets for flights).
If you have questions, need forms, or want to discuss whether your activity qualifies, please stop by the VCTA office in C-101.
📆Upcoming Meetings
Association Council
· September 25 – 1:30, F-216
· November 13 – 1:30, F-216
· December 11- 1:30, F-216
General Assembly
· September 10 – UB, A-320
· October 8 – UB , B-223 ( special GA on insurance, may be rescheduled to October 15th)
· November 19 – UB, B-223
· December 17 – 3pm, B-223, Happy Hour to follow
Academic Council
· September 19 – 1:00, F-216
· October 31 – 1:00, F-216
· November 21, 1:00, F-216 (this date is a placeholder)
· December 19, 1:00, F-216
CRT
· October 2 – 2:00, on TEAMS
· November 27
Board of Directors
· September 30 – 6:30, F-216
· November 11 – 6:30, F-216
· December 16 – 6:30, F-216