16 Mar
2012
16 Mar
'12
14:56
On the evening of March 15 2012, a petition signed by approximately 294
members was remitted in due form to Nicolas Cuillerier, Chairperson of the
Council of Representatives of the CSU in order to hold a Special General
Meeting(SGM) on March 23rd 2012 to decide on the renewal of the strike.
According to CSU bylaws and Nicolas Cuillerier, Chairperson of the Council
of Representatives of the CSU, it is now of the duty of the
representatives to make sure the SGM is advertised within 5 days and that
a room is booked to that effect. This means putting ALL possible effort to
ensure the happening of this SGM.
The petition can be seen below and in attachment.
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We, the undersigned, call on the Concordia Student Union (CSU) Executives
to organize a Special General Meeting on March 23rd, 2012. As per bylaw
5.3.2, a Special General Meeting may be called upon the presentation of a
petition signed by at least 250 members.
During our last general assembly, we decided, for the first time in
Concordia University’s history, to go on strike from March 15 to March
22nd 2012 to defend the accessibility of education. It was also decided
that CSU members may call another general assembly to make decisions in
regards to renewing the strike.
Since April 2010, students across the province of Quebec have been
organizing to gradually intensify pressure upon the government so that our
demands are heard. This collective effort will be pointless if we give up
before achieving any collective gains. At the time this petition was
being typed, there were about 145,000 students on strike but the
government still remains firm on its intention to raise tuition fees.
Many student unions across the province are regularly organizing general
assemblies to collectively re-evaluate their action plan in regards to the
strike.
The Fédération Étudiante Universitaire du Québec (FEUQ), of which CSU is a
member, has a history of unilaterally making agreements with the
government on behalf of students without having any mandates from its
members’ general assemblies. Having the power to have a say on the
outcome of this strike will heavily depend on our determination to
organize ourselves in a democratic manner to avoid any recuperation of our
struggle.
*Be It Resolved that a Special General Meeting of the members of CSU shall
be called, as per CSU Bylaw Article 5.3.2, on March 23rd, 2012.
*Be It Further Resolved that there shall be no change in the date for the
Special General Meeting (SGM) mentioned above due to the proximity of the
strike dates to be proposed.
*Be It Further Resolved that, if the SGM is to be held in multiple rooms,
it be conducted in a manner that will allow discussion to be broadcast in
each of the rooms, shall the General Assembly decide so.
*Be It Further Resolved that we decree Gabrielle Provost, Éloise Landry and
Tram Bui as the promoters of this petition.
*Be It Further Resolved that the proposed agenda read as follows:
1. Call to order and procedures
2. Minimum agreement
Whereas FEUQ has a history of unilaterally signing agreements with the
government on behalf of students without consulting them, thus maintaining
students in a figurative role;
Whereas all national student organizations in Québec, except the FEUQ,
have agreed to the minimum agreement (as stated in the three inseparable
clauses below);
And, in accordance with the general principles of democracy,
accountability and transparency which the Concordia Student Union (CSU)
and the Fédération Étudiante Universitaire du Québec (FEUQ) claim to
espouse.
Be it resolved that the CSU adopts the following clauses which form the
minimum agreement:
a) The solidarity clause: That each of the national student associations
refuses to negotiate with the government if doing so excludes any other.
b) The non-recommendation clause: That the national student associations
will not recommend any government proposition to its members in order to
truly allow the local general assemblies have the last word.
c) The non-denunciation clause: That the national student associations
undertake not to denounce actions taken by the other national
organizations and local associations.
Be it further resolved that the CSU makes a public announcement via press
release that the minimum agreement has been adopted within 72 hours of
this resolution being passed and publicly calls for FEUQ to adopt and
promote this minimum agreement.
3. Strike renewal
Whereas CSU has already voted to hold a strike between March 15 and 22nd
2012 to protest the unfair tuition increase which will further reinforce
social inequalities;
Whereas other student unions across the province and within Concordia
University are regularly organizing general assemblies to collectively
re-evaluate their action plan in regards to the strike and that a second
wave of strike is on numerous student unions’ agenda;
Whereas making significant gains will heavily depend on our willingness to
significantly invest ourselves in the movement in order to improve our
conditions;
Whereas all the efforts put into the escalation of pressure against the
government started in April 2010 will have been pointless if we give up at
this point;
Be it resolved that the members of the CSU immediately renew the strike
for a period of one week from March 23 to 30th 2012 , while maintaining
the respect of the sovereignty of general assemblies at the faculty and
department levels;
Be it further resolved that CSU financially supports faculties and
departments that voted for the strike;
Be it further resolved that the members reconvene weekly in General
Assemblies to discuss and decide on the continuation of the strike.
Be it further resolved that the next SGM take place on Friday March 30th
2012.
4. Other
5. Adjournment