The Vanier College Teachers’ Association
📢 CSN “Faire Front” Demonstration – November 29, Montréal
The Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN) has announced a province-wide demonstration to be held on Saturday, November 29, beginning at 1:30 p.m. at Place du Canada in Montréal. Organized under the banner “Faire front” (“Standing Together”), this event will bring together union members and citizens in a collective show of solidarity around pressing social, economic, and environmental issues that continue to shape Québec’s future.
The Faire front campaign was established in response to what the CSN characterizes as a growing erosion of workers’ rights, the weakening of public services, and insufficient governmental action to address the climate crisis. The initiative seeks to draw attention to policies that, according to the CSN, have undermined the social safety net and targeted unions rather than addressing fundamental challenges such as the housing crisis, the rising cost of living, and the chronic underfunding of health and education systems. In this context, the CSN is calling upon all citizens to stand together in defense of a fairer, more sustainable, and more inclusive Québec. Members of the public are also invited to express their support by signing the Faire front declaration, available at csn.qc.ca/faire-front.
Three central themes define the campaign.
Standing Together for Workers
The first theme underscores the importance of safeguarding the rights and dignity of all employees—whether in education, health care, childcare, manufacturing, or the service sector. The CSN maintains that recent legislative and economic measures have weakened fundamental labour rights, including the right to organize, to bargain collectively, and to strike. The protection of these rights is viewed as essential to ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and respect for those whose work sustains both public and private sectors across Québec.
Standing Together for the Social State
The second theme highlights the central role of robust, accessible public services (i.e. health care, education, social programs, and housing) in maintaining social cohesion. The campaign cautions that ongoing austerity measures, privatization, and underinvestment threaten the very principles of equity and universality upon which Québec’s social model is founded. In response, Faire front advocates for renewed public investment and a reaffirmation of collective responsibility toward vulnerable groups and future generations.
Standing Together for the Planet
The third theme situates the labour movement within the broader effort toward environmental justice. The CSN emphasizes the need for a just ecological transition; one that fosters the creation of sustainable, unionized employment while reducing Québec’s carbon footprint. The campaign calls for significant investment in public transportation, renewable energy, and community-based environmental initiatives, emphasizing that effective climate action must be inseparable from social and economic justice.
Join the Demonstration
Faculty members and members of the college community are encouraged to participate in this demonstration and to lend their support to this collective initiative. This is an opportunity to stand in solidarity with workers throughout the province and to reaffirm our shared commitment to equity, strong public institutions, and a sustainable future.
Those interested can join and share the official CSN “Faire Front” Facebook event for updates and details:
👉 https://www.facebook.com/events/24617416827950494
The VCTA will be present at this province-wide demonstration in support of the CSN’s call to action. Further information, including logistical details and transportation arrangements, will be communicated in the coming weeks. Members are invited to monitor their email for updates.
🚨 Bill 3: Reform of the Union Regime
The Québec government’s recently tabled Bill 3, titled “Loi visant à renforcer la transparence et la démocratie syndicale” (“An Act to Strengthen Union Transparency and Democracy”), has drawn strong criticism from the CSN and other major labour organizations across the province. The proposed legislation would significantly alter the legal framework that governs unions in Québec, introducing measures that many see as an encroachment on union autonomy and the right of association.
According to the government, Bill 3 seeks to modernize the union regime by increasing accountability, financial transparency, and democratic participation within labour organizations. However, the CSN and other central labour federations argue that the bill’s real effect would be to limit the independence of unions and weaken their capacity to represent members effectively. They contend that the proposed measures would impose unnecessary administrative burdens and shift power toward employers and the State under the guise of “transparency.”
Among the most debated provisions are requirements for unions to hold secret-ballot votes to approve strike actions and collective agreements, along with new restrictions on how membership contributions may be determined and used. Critics warn that these changes would fundamentally alter the balance of power in labour relations, creating obstacles to collective bargaining and undermining decades of social progress achieved through union advocacy.
The CSN has characterized the legislation as “paternalistic and authoritarian,” describing it as an attempt to muzzle the union movement and neutralize its social influence. It has joined other central labour organizations (FTQ, CSQ, and FIQ), in calling for the bill’s withdrawal and urging members to mobilize in defense of fundamental labour rights. The CSN emphasizes that genuine democracy in the workplace cannot exist without strong, independent unions able to speak and act freely on behalf of their members.
Members are encouraged to stay informed about the progress of Bill 3 and to participate in upcoming mobilization efforts organized through the Faire Front campaign and other collective actions. The VCTA will continue to monitor developments closely and keep members updated as more information becomes available.
🔎 Reminder: Seniority List Verification
A friendly reminder to all faculty to take a few moments to review the unofficial seniority list distributed on October 15, and to verify that your accumulated workload for the 2023–2024 academic year is accurate. This list will become official on November 11, 2025.
The difference between your total seniority this year and last year should reflect the contracts you signed for 2023–2024.
If you notice any discrepancies or have questions about your record, please don’t hesitate to contact the VCTA at vcta@vaniercollege.qc.ca. We’ll be happy to assist you in reviewing your information before the list is finalized.
🏵 White Poppy Campaign
The Collectif Échec à la guerre has launched the 15th edition of the White Poppy Campaign, which runs until November 11 under the theme “For Humanity! Disarm!”
The campaign invites individuals to wear the white poppy as a symbol of remembrance for all victims of war; civilians and soldiers alike, and as a call for peace and disarmament. The initiative emphasizes that the white poppy is not intended as opposition to the red poppy or to veterans, but rather as a complementary gesture that broadens the message of remembrance to include all those affected by armed conflict.
More information about the campaign and the 2025 declaration can be found at:
👉 echecalaguerre.org/agir/campagne-2025-du-coquelicot-blanc-15e-edition
White poppies are available in C-101. For those who wish to wear the traditional red poppy, they are available at the Print Shop.
📌 Changes to Health and Dental Insurance Coverage – Effective January 1, 2026
Effective January 1, 2026, important updates will come into effect for teachers insured under the Beneva Group Insurance Plan (Group #1008). The traditional annual modification period between November 1 and November 30 will be eliminated. Members will now have the flexibility to make changes to their health and dental insurance coverage at any time throughout the year.
Under the new provisions, increases to health or dental coverage may be made at any time, while reductions to coverage will be permitted after a minimum participation period of 36 months or within 30 days of an eligible life event such as marriage, separation, or the birth or adoption of a first child.
Any changes submitted before December 31, 2025 will take effect on January 1, 2026.
Members are reminded that their coverage selections—Basic (Module A), Standard (Module B), or Enriched (Module C)—determine the level of reimbursement and premium rates for both health and dental benefits. Updated 2026 rates and a summary of benefits are included in the attachments for reference.
Further information can be found in the documents titled “Group #1008 – 2026 Rates” and “Application for Modification to Group Insurance.”
📅Save the Dates – Upcoming General Assemblies
Faculty are invited to mark their calendars for the upcoming VCTA General Assemblies.
- Wednesday, November 19 – during Universal Break (UB)
- Wednesday, December 17 – from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., followed by a Holiday Happy Hour
Further details, including the agenda and meeting location, will be communicated in the coming weeks.
We look forward to seeing everyone there and encourage all members to attend and participate in these important end-of-term discussions.
📅 Upcoming Meetings
Association Council
- November 13, 1:30 – 3:30, F-216
- December 11, 1:30 – 3:30, F-216
General Assembly
- November 19, 12:30 – 2:00, B-233 (Amphitheatre)
- December 17, 3:00 – 5:00, Auditorium ( Happy Hour at 5:00 )
Academic Council
- November 21, 1:00, F-216 (this date is a placeholder)
- December 19, 1:00, F-216
CRT
- November 27, 2:00 – 4:00, on TEAMS
Board of Governors
- November 11 – 6:30, F-216
- December 16 – 6:30, F-216