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Policy on English-Language Services

Preamble

A number of major principles guide the CSQ with respect to granting English-language services to our members:

1. The CSQ is a union organization that uses the French language. It promotes the French language as the sole official language of Québec, making it the common language of Quebecers.
2. However, as a democratic collective organization, the CSQ seeks to improve means of ensuring, in practice, the full, advised participation of its members.
3. The English-language services (second language in importance in Québec) that the CSQ provides to its members aim to ensure democratic life and the protection of rights, to promote identification with the CSQ and adherence to its values, orientations and goals.
4. The services provided by the CSQ are offered in accordance with the division of responsibilities voted by the Congress, with service agreements agreed upon with the federations and the Association, and with the provisions of the collective agreements that bind the CSQ to advisory and office staff.
5. The services provided as part of this policy are subject to criteria pertaining to reasonable expenditures.

Policy on English-Language Services

The CSQ shall therefore provide the following services:

a) Labour Relations

1. The CSQ ensures access to an English-speaking advisor for the first-level services that it provides when acting in back-up support capacity (RUC).
2. The CSQ provides legal services in the English language when necessary.
3. It endeavours to designate an English-speaking person to every federation representing a significant number of English-speaking members.

b) Negotiations

1. When need be, the CSQ ensures that an English-speaking advisor assist English-speaking groups, as part of its mandate to provide support for initial agreements and complex or difficult negotiations.
2. Consultation and information documents concerning intersectoral negotiations produced by the CSQ are translated into English as well as the major documents that are tabled for consultation and debate, and those that serve to establish the CSQ’s positions. In the latter case, however, the document may merely be a summary.

c) English Translation and Adaptation

1. As part of the CSQ’s international action, correspondance may be translated into languages other than French.
2. The CSQ ensures the English translation of documents that directly address members, in compliance with the rules stated in paragraphs 3 to 7.
3. The documents concerning union organization (statutes, by-laws, CSQ presentation) and a number of administrative forms and promotional brochures are translated into English at the request of the department responsible for this service.
4. An English-language adaptation of Nouvelles CSQ reproduces the major articles of the publication. The CSQ takes the necessary measures to ensure that both publications are mailed almost simultaneously.
5. Joint publications prepared by the CSQ and the affiliated federations (Cahier santé, Cahier collégial) are translated into English, at shared cost, where there are English-speaking members in the federations involved.
6. Documents published on the CSQ Web site that have been designated for English translation are available in English on the site.
7. The Web site also includes an English-language section which features translated documents.
8. The CSQ may also ensure written communication in the English language with its members when the CSQ faces a situation in which ethnic or linguistic factors may constitute a source of conflict and internal tension.
9. In order to ensure the translation of documents, the CSQ has compiled a directory of outside resources which it regularly updates and sends to affiliated federations and associations. In turn, the federations and associations are invited to add the names of resources providing translations to the directory.

d) Social Security

As for counter service, the CSQ endeavours to make at least one English-speaking person available to provide service to English-speaking members.

e) Education

1. The CSQ endeavours to assign an English-speaking resource person to the education team as quickly as possible. In the interval, the CSQ requests that English-speaking resource persons be made available to hold training sessions.
2. The basic training session material for union executive structures is translated (cost shared with the federation involved), where the demand is justified. The CSQ also assumes the cost of providing the translation of certain expertise training sessions, such as, for example, Assembly Procedures and group facilitating, where the demand is justified.

f) Association Life

1. French-English interpretation services are provided to non French-speaking delegates at the CSQ Congress. If a non French-speaking delegate wishes to take the floor at the Congress, the interpreter will provide an English-French version of the delegate’s intervention.
2. Decisions of proceedings of the General Council, the General Negotiation Council and the Congress are translated into English, in addition to the General Council’s recommendations to the Congress.

g) Reception

1. The CSQ endeavours to provide telephone reception service in English to non French-speaking members.
2. The Communications Department is responsible for the application of sections b)2, c) , e)2 and f) of the policy.
3. The Human Resources Department is responsible for the application of the other sections of the policy.