Catch-up plan: Confusion over pay for volunteer teachers

After the strike there was confusion in the school network surrounding the pay of teachers who volunteered to take part in the catch-up plan. News magazineA situation that may explain why some teachers raised their hands to participate.

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Instructions on the matter will be sent soon, Education Minister Bernard Drainville's office indicated late on Wednesday.

As the catch-up plan begins in schools on Monday, many service centers are yet to tell their teachers how much remuneration will be given to those participating in the catch-up operation.

“Why isn't anything clear yet?” Josie Scalabrini, president of the Federation of Education Unions, said. “Unless you know how you're going to be paid, it's hard to decide whether to fly,” she says.

News magazine It was reported earlier this week that some teachers volunteered, according to school administrators.

At the Education Minister's office, we are assured that clear instructions will be sent to the school network by the end of the week.

Teachers are paid overtime, which represents up to $92 an hour for teachers at the top of the pay scale, according to its press secretary, Florence Plourde.

A service center has retreated

However, much different information was initially circulated, particularly among teachers at the Montreal School Service Center, who were told on Tuesday that they were paid “by the lesson,” a less-than-beneficial formula that led to teacher raises.

But by the end of the day on Wednesday, the service center said Newspaper Teachers are ultimately paid overtime.

At the Montreal Association of School Directors, two weeks after the catch-up plan was announced, we're lamenting the uncertainty surrounding pay.

However, its president, Kathleen Legault, said she was relieved to know it would soon be disbanded and pleased with the face-off of the Montreal service centre.

“We cannot move at high speed when we do not have answers to our questions. There, we will finally be able to move forward, answer questions from our staff and finalize our plan,” she said.

Quebec announced a catch-up plan in early January with $300 million in funding, based primarily on instructional measures and additional services for students, provided by school staff on a voluntary basis.

An indefinite general strike by teachers affiliated with the Federation of Autonomous Education (FAE) saw nearly 40% of Quebec students miss class for up to 24 days before the holidays.