Resolution and Draft Minutes of the 9 May General Assembly

On 5 May the government and student negotiators proposed an agreement that would preserve tuition increases, offset those increases by a reduction in ancillary fees, and establish a committee to look into and propose areas where universities could save money, with those savings being applied to offsetting ancillary fees. On 9 May the GSA General Assembly convened to discuss this offer and to convey its opinion, via our delegates to the CLASSE, to the negotiators and the government.

The following resolution was passed at the 9 may 2012 GSA General Assembly:

CONSIDERING that the government’s offer does not address the issue of tuition fees.

CONSIDERING that the majority of the provisional council are allies of the government, and in this sense, it is highly probably that this Council will not suggest any measure to significantly reduce student fees nor to solve mismanagement;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the GSA refuses the offer of the government;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the GSA reiterates that only an offer that freezes tuition and looks at increased public funding of post-secondary education will be capable of solving the conflict;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the GSA continue the strike

Minutes of the Emergency General Assembly of 9 May

[DRAFT]

Agenda

1. Call to Order and Appointments
2. Adoption of the Agenda
3. Government offer and motions arising
4. Police Brutality & Judicialization
5. Next  Meeting
6. Adjournment

1. 1.   Call to Order and Appointments

Call to order: 12:15pm

1.1 Motion: Max Silverman as Chair

Proposed by: Nadia

Seconded by: Chris;

1.2 Motion: Gabrielle as Moodwatcher

Proposal: Tom

2^nd: Simon

1.3 Motion: Kiley as secretary

Proposed by: Annie;

2^nd: David;

1. 2.   Adoption of Agenda

Prop: Matthew

Seconded by: Charles

Motion Passes;

2.1 Amendment: Add point on police brutality and judicisialization of protesters

Prop by : Jean-Sebastien

2^nd by: Tom

Passes with Majority

2.2 Amendment: After point 3, a point on the representiveness of the GSA GA;

Prop: Ryan;

Seconded by:  Walter;

For: 29; Against: 30; Abstain: 15;

Motion fails;

 

1. 3.   Gov’t offer and motions arising;

3.1 Motion: Discussion period of 15 minutes with 10 minute presentation if available

Proposal: Matthew

Seconded by: David;

Motion passes with majority;

3.2 Motion to extend discussion period by 5 mins;

Proposal: Giogivani

Seconded by: Annie;

Passes with majority;

3.3 Motion: Scenario 1 in the handout:

That GSA reiterates that only an offer (of a firm freeze at 2012 levels) will be capable of solving the conflict;

3.3.1 Amendment:  Replace underlined with “that looks at better ways of funding post-secondary education;

Propose by: Marie-Claude;

Seconded by: Annie;

3.3.1.1 Sub Amendment: change “better” to “more concrete”;

Proposed by: Charles;

Seconded by: Didier;

SUB-AMENDMENT FAILS.

3.3.1.2 Sub Amendment:  Change to “…that looks at increased public funding of post-secondary education…”

Proposed by Marie Claude;

Seconded by: Annie;

ADOPTED WITH MAJORITY;

3.3.1.3 Sub Amendment: “…only an offer that freezes tuition and looks for increased public funding of post-secondary education…”

Proposed by: Krista;

Seconded by: David;

ADOPTED WITH MAJORITY.

3.3.1 Amendment now reads:  “…that an offer that freezes tuition and looks at increased public funding of post-secondary education…”

ADOPTED WITH MAJORITY.

Considering that the government’s offer corresponds to a freeze in university costs for the next year, but that the hike will remain for the following six years;

3.3.2 Amendment: Replace underlined with “….does not address the issue of tuition fees.”

Proposed by: David;

Seconded by: Ryan;

ADOPTED WITH MAJORITY.

3.3.3 Amendment to add: The GSA calls on CLASSE negotiation committee to seek formal negotiation training prior to the next negotiation with the government;

Proposed by: David

Seconded by: Catherine;

            Proposal to withdraw the amendment: adopted with Majority

3.3.4 Amendment: That the assembly mandate the GSA strike committee to organize an action in consultation with all university unions.

Proposed by Matthew;

Point of Order: Out of order – Chair accepts the motion.

Contesting Chair’s ruling:

Chair’s call overturned. Motion is ruled out of order.

3.3.5 Amendment: Remove the third clause (“That the GSA continue the strike”).

Proposed by Ryan;

Seconded by Firaz;

Fails by majority;

3.3.5.1 Sub Amendment: Instead “Meet to vote at a future date on the strike.”

Proposal: Diane;

Seconded by: Chris;

Fails by majority;

3.3 Motion now reads:

Considering that the government’s offer does not address the issue of tuition fees.

Considering that the majority of the provisional council are allies of the government, and in this sense, it is highly probably that this Council will not suggest any measure to significantly reduce student fees nor to solve mismanagement;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the GSA refuses the offer of the government;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the GSA reiterates that only an offer that freezes tuition and looks at increased public funding of post-secondary education will be capable of solving the conflict;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the GSA continue the strike.

 

Call to Question:       

            Proposed by Andrea

Seconded by Chris

 

3.3  Vote on main motion:

            For:  70;           Against: 1;       Abstain: 3;

            Motion passes 98.6%

 

3.4 Motion:

• Considering that the May 5^th offer does come close to a satisfaction of our minimum demand which is a full tuition freeze;
• Considering that CLASSE negotiator submitted to all demands from the other party during the 22 hours negotiation process: accepting to exclude all other CLASSE negotiators from the table, accepting to negotiate for 22 hours straight with no sleep, accepting to publicly condemn students actions in Victoriaville, accepting a clause that called for no demonstrations during the adoption of the agreement, accepting to sign an agreement that does not even come close to the CLASSE’s global demands;
• Considering these submissive practices clearly go against the functioning of ASSÉ, combative, independent and feminist syndicalism, which goes against any form of compromise with the government;
• Considering that the very essence of the practice of combative syndicalism relies on the gain of strength in numbers in order to give the other party, in this occurrence, the government, no other choice but to listen to our demands;
• Considering that direct democracy involves a constant verification of actions of its delegates who need to be held accountable to general assemblies
• Considering that it is inacceptable that the CLASSE negotiator admitted to signing the document without reading it in full and while being admittedly half asleep

[BIRT for impeachment of Philippe Lapoint has been misplaced but was here originall

Be it resolved that the GSA adopts a censure motion against the negotiation committee for their disrespect of our basic principles of combative syndicalism;

Be it resolved that GSA demands the CLASSE largely promotes information already contained on ASSÉ’s website based on its self-produced document called ‘’Le Syndicalisme Étudiant de Combat’’, more specifically the part called ‘’Premières bases théoriques’’, on the website of Bloquons la Hausse and in the next strike newspaper.

Be it resolved that the CLASSE shall retract itself from the negotiation table under the above-mentioned circumstances, that the CLASSE expresses in the media its will to defend combative syndicalism and to promote the fact that the position of status quo is non-negotiable and that we choose to go back to the picket lines and in the street until we are fully satisfied.

Be it resolved that the GSA demands the CLASSE promote in the media the position of combative syndicalism and that the full tuition freeze, our minimum demand, is non-negotiable and that for anything less we refuse to put an end to the most important student strike in Quebec.

Proposed by: Jean-Sebastian;

Seconded by: Tim;

3.4.1 Amendment:  Strike the first BITR clause (to impeach Philippe Lapointe).

Proposed by Tim;

Seconded by David;

ADOPTED;

Motion to Divide: Vote on the first clause separately:

“Be it resolved that the GSA adopts a censure motion against the negotiation committee for their disrespect of our basic principles of combative syndicalism;”

Proposed by Annie;

Seconded by Tom;

Motion passes.

Motion to Table the entire motion 3.4

Propose: Allison;

Seconded by: Holly;

Motion passes with 2/3rds majority;

Motion: Nominate Aude Maltais, Nadia Hausfather, David Widgington and Andrée Lafontaine as delegates for CLASSE

Proposed by Nadia;

Seconded by Chris;

Passes unanimously;

Motion: Add Yessica Maceas to the delegates

Proposed by Nadia;

Seconded by:

Motion to table the additional delegate:

Passed unanimously;

Motion:  That GSA endorse the counter offer   of the CLASSE of May 2^nd.

Points:

-          Transfer of funds from (marketable) research to teaching

-          End of commercial advertising

-          Immediate freeze on salary and hiring of university administrators

-          Moratorium on construction of satellite campuses and expansion of all

-          Holding of Etats Generaux

Proposed by Chris;

Seconded by Johanna;

Amendment: BIFRT that the GSA mandate its delegates to call on the CLASSE change their demands to call for the reduction of senior administrators;

Proposed by Tim;

Seconded by Arwen;

Call for Quorum: not met

Motion to Adjourn: Passes 3:35pm