MONTREAL - Some 360 Quebec daycare centres were closed Friday as part of a province-wide strike, including 71 in Montreal and Laval.
Altogether about 8,500 workers belonging to the CSN union will be off the job Friday, affecting about 20,000 families.
The workers were keen to sell the public that the good work they do is worth more than they are being offered.
"People seem to say that we're doing a great job but meanwhile we don't get the recognition from the government," said daycare worker Jean-Francois Normandeau.
Another criticized the offer as a step backwards.
"The first two years of the agreement we would have less net pay than we do right now," said Jeff Begley of the Federation of Health and Social Services.
Yolande James, the government minister responsible for the dossier did not appear to be ready to buckle.
"I would love to be able to say I can offer the moon but that's just not what is possible. We're talking about parents as well when we talk about tax dollars and if we really care about our day care network, as I know a lot of parents do, we have to be able to think long term," said Families Minister Yolande James.
More than 100 daycares were closed on Monday as well,, creating havoc for working parents scrambling to find an alternative.
Daycare workers are demanding better salaries and more vacation days.
Families Minister Yolande James has said the walkout is premature, since contract talks are still ongoing.
There are roughly 1,000 CPE daycares in Quebec, with employees represented by various unions. Many other unions have ratified contracts within the past 18 months.
The 2,600 unionized workers belong to the CSN union, which hopes the job action will spur contract negotiations with the provincial government.
The Confédération des syndicats nationaux is representing the 8,500 daycare workers in contract talks. The labour federation says the walkout Friday would close 360 Centres de la petite enfance, as public daycare centres are known.
