On May 4, 2004, the Syndicat des Étudiant·es Employé·es de l’Université du Québec à Montréal, commonly known as SÉTUE, was established. It was PSAC-Quebec’s first directly chartered local in the university sector and the beginning of a great adventure—one that continues to mark historic milestones today, with over 20,000 members organized in less than five years.
As noted by then-Vice-President Jérôme Turc, “Building the university sector has undoubtedly been the most large-scale project undertaken by PSAC-Quebec. Many saw a path strewn with obstacles and difficulties, but students, activists and employees of PSAC-Quebec could see opportunities.”
It all started when Isabelle Renaud, then a master’s student in political science, met with Mathieu Dumont, PSAC-Quebec’s first regional organizer, to organize student assistants. While other unions see this type of organizing as an undertaking that is too big, too complicated and has too much turnover, PSAC’s daring showed that thousands of young activists in precarious jobs can in fact be organized to improve their working conditions.
Together, they embarked on a wild race of organizing in the university sector, attracting dozens of union activists who remain influential to this day at the FTQ, at various political levels and across the Quebec labour movement.
“Time and time again, the young members of our university sector have challenged the status quo and urged us to innovate,” said current Executive Vice-President Yvon Barrière. “They help make PSAC-Quebec a gateway to union activism and a source of enduring pride.”
“When I come home and think back on all we accomplished, I realize that like for many of you, PSAC will always have a special place in my heart,” said Magali Picard, FTQ President and former PSAC-Quebec Vice-President.
On March 20, to mark this 20th anniversary, PSAC-Quebec hosted a reunion dinner for its current executives and many key figures in this wave of organizing. The evening was filled with anecdotes, historical facts and discussions on the significance of PSAC’s initiative in the collective consciousness.
“I would like to pay tribute to all those who had the vision and have contributed to this monumental effort over the years. And it’s not over—we have no plans to stop. We will definitely be back to celebrate another 20 years,” concluded Yvon Barrière.
To view the complete photo album of the event, visit our Flickr account.
