FÉDÉRATION DU PERSONNEL PROFESSIONNEL DES COLLÈGES
Champlain Regional College - Administration office professionals join the FPPC-CSQ

The professionals of the administration offices of Champlain Regional College, a public English-language college, have just joined the ranks of the Fédération du personnel professionnel des collèges (FPPC-CSQ), a union affiliated with the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ).

Coming together under the umbrella of the Professionals' Association of Champlain Regional College Administration Offices (PA-CRC-AO-CSQ) (Association des professionnels des bureaux administratifs du Champlain Regional College), they are therefore joining their fellow professionals from the Lennoxville, Saint-Lambert and St. Lawrence campuses, all existing members of unions affiliated with the FPPC-CSQ.

Safeguarding working conditions

Josée Bouchard, President of this new union, explains that governance restructuring within their college is ongoing and has led to uncertainties.

"There are no direct threats to our jobs, but we considered that, under the circumstances, it would be preferable to unionize, particularly since we have excellent working conditions which we want to safeguard," indicates Josée Bouchard.

Gains secured through unions' hard work

She also acknowledges that the fact that professionals in administration offices having secured such working conditions is a direct result of the efforts of their unionized fellow professionals during collective agreement negotiations.

"Even though we weren't unionized, the college provided us with the same working conditions as those identified in the Fédération du personnel professionnel des collèges collective agreement," states Josée Bouchard. For many years, they enjoyed the fruits of other workers' labour, without having played a part in their mobilization. Today, they are more than happy to do their fair share as well, and advocate for the interests and working conditions of all professionals at the Champlain Regional College and its campuses.

FPPC-CSQ's 35^th union 

As for the President of the FPPC-CSQ, Suzanne Tousignant, she welcomes all professionals member of the PA-CRC-AO-CSQ to the Fédération.

"It gives us great pride to welcome the members of this new union to our ranks. The FPPC-CSQ now includes 35 unions across Québec. More than ever, this inspires us to maintain our efforts towards a greater valorization of the crucial role of the professionals working in our colleges," comments Suzanne Tousignant.

An expanding union solidarity

As a final point, the FPPC-CSQ President is happy to see that all members of the professional staff at Champlain Regional College and its campuses are now working together, in a show of union solidarity; she pledges that they will always be able to rely on the wide-ranging solidarity of all FPPC-CSQ members.