Nearly 13,000 workers from more than 400 early childhood centers (CPE) in Quebec are on strike Thursday to support their wage demands and demand better working conditions as part of the renewal of their employment contract.
For thousands of Quebec parents, it’s another morning where they have to find a plan B to look after their children while they are at work, which is not always easy, even with the popularity of teleworking.
At least half of CPE on strike are located in the regions of Montreal, Laval, the Laurentians, Montérégie and Lanaudière. Several dozen childcare providers are also on strike in the region, notably in Saguenay, where there are more than 80, in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, on the North Shore, in Bas-Saint-Laurent, in Gaspésie and in the Îles- de-la-Madeleine.
Affiliated with the Federation of Health and Social Services (FSSS-CSN), striking workers have been without an employment contract since April 2023.
Among other things, they are demanding higher salaries to encourage staff retention and at the same time lighten their workload. We are also asking for bonuses for educators in remote regions and measures to better support children who have special needs.
We have nothing on the table to reach an agreement in principle at this time.
Negotiations for the renewal of collective agreements resumed after the holidays with the Legault government, but several blockages persist, particularly on the salary level.
All we have on the table is the offer submitted to us in May 2024 at 12.5%. [sur 5 ans] at the salary level and a negative response to all of our other requests […] For us, it takes something a little more serious
declared Stéphanie Vachon, representative of CPE of the FSSS–CSN at the microphone of the show All one morningon ICI Première.
Véronica Albachiaro, educator, testifies to her daily reality in recent years.
Photo: - / Olivier Bolduc-Coutu
Salaries in CPEs are really unfair compared to salaries in the entire public network.
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Particularly the primary education network which is our major competitor. There are several workers who are leaving for the school network, especially since the implementation of classroom aids.
adds Ms. Vachon.
Remember that Quebec government civil servants obtained a 17.4% salary increase last year over five years. When hired, an educator currently earns approximately $21 per hour and approximately $28 per hour after reaching the 10th salary level.
The problem, according to Stéphanie Vachon, is that even if educators received a 17.4% increase today, the salary gap that separates them from other employees in the school and health networks would remain the same.
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Union members are demanding, among other things, staff retention measures.
Photo: - / Carla Oliveira
The government, for its part, is demanding more flexibility in the organization of work in exchange for higher salaries. Ms. Vachon assures that union members are ready to look at what can be done, but that due to the current labor shortage in CPEs, it is difficult to see how more could be done.
Existing workers give a lot more time than what they have on the schedule, many work beyond their normal work weeks
assures Stéphanie Vachon.
The FSSS-CSN union members have adopted a mandate including four other days of strike, the dates of which have not yet been determined.
For their part, early childhood union members affiliated with the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ) and the Quebec Federation of Workers (FTQ) reached agreements in principle with Quebec during the holidays.
