Denouncing the conditions that make their work unattractive, some 13,000 workers from 400 affiliated early childhood centers launched a first day of strike on Thursday.
Posted at 10:16 a.m.
In the bitter cold, a few hundred of them met at the Parc des Faubourgs, at the exit of the Jacques Cartier Bridge, in Montreal. Union members affiliated with the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN) denounced in particular the offer of a salary increase of 12.5%, lower than that of 17.4% obtained at the beginning of January in the CPEs represented by the Centrale des syndicats du Québec ( CSQ) and the Quebec Federation of Workers (FTQ).
“Working conditions in CPE need to be improved because salaries are insufficient, because we are not at all competitive with the public sector, with the school network,” declared Stéphanie Vachon, representative of the sector. CPEs within the Federation of Health and Social Services (FSSS – CSN).
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, THE PRESS
Stéphanie Vachon (foreground), representative of the CPE sector within the Federation of Health and Social Services (FSSS – CSN), believes that “the CPE network is in danger” due to the lack of attractiveness of salary conditions.
Little progress
According to her, “the CPE network is in danger” due to the unattractiveness of salary conditions, which harms employee retention and recruitment. “We have difficulty keeping the staff in place, keeping the flame alive to continue doing this job. We also have difficulty attracting new talent. »
Little progress has been made since Quebec tabled its offer for a 12.5% wage increase in May 2024, she argued. “We have been negotiating with the government for eight months now. We want to finally be able to discuss everything that is monetary. The response we receive is a negative response to all of our requests. »
For Dominique Daigneault, president of the Central Council of Metropolitan Montreal-CSN, Thursday’s strike day is part of a long history of struggle for women’s rights.
-It is a story of women’s struggle to obtain services so that they can enter the job market with peace of mind because they know that their children are spending their day with people who are competent. It is also a story of the struggle of women who fight for the recognition of their profession, because this type of profession has long been devalued.
Stéphanie Vachon, representative of the CPE sector within the FSSS – CSN
Coming to support the CPE union members, the president of the CSN, Caroline Senneville, made a point of recalling the decisive role of this network set up from 1997 for the development of Quebec. “Our GDP increased because women could go to work and contribute to the Quebec economy. CPEs contribute to the social and economic wealth of Quebec. And they cannot do that without workers who are of course dedicated, but it is qualified workers that we need. »
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, THE PRESS
Caroline Senneville, president of the CSN
She believes that the network needs “a boost” and launches a “solemn” appeal to the Minister of Families, Suzanne Roy. “For the well-being of families, we must move forward, conditions must definitely be more attractive than they are now. »
No strike timetable
The CSN represents more than 80% of unionized CPEs. Of the establishments on strike Thursday, 112 are in Montreal and Laval, 64 in Quebec and Chaudière-Appalaches, and 21 in Montérégie. Their collective agreement expired on 1is April 2023 and they have a five-day strike mandate adopted by 94%.
“We have not established the timetable for the strike day, we are really going to go there depending on the negotiations,” said Stéphanie Vachon. The next negotiation meeting is scheduled for January 28. For the salary aspect, we consider the offer of an increase of 12.5% over five years clearly insufficient. We are also asking for a lighter workload, regional disparity bonuses and “well-defined and respected” ratios between the number of educators and children, as well as better support for children with special needs.
