MONTREAL - Employees at 119 daycare centres across Quebec walked off the job Monday in what is planned to be a one-day strike.
The 2,600 unionized workers belong to the CSN union, which hopes the job action will spur contract negotiations with the provincial government.
In Montreal workers rallied in the morning at St. Louis Square and marched to Emelie Gamelin park.
Families Minister Yolande James has said the walkout is premature, since contract talks are still ongoing, with the next bargaining session scheduled for Tuesday.
"I understand that some union workers think we are not progressing fast enough," said James "but I am confident we can work out a deal."
She questioned the need for Monday's labour action.
"I don't know why today in certain regions already they feel they need to threaten a strike to make things move faster when we're already dedicated to commit to do everything that needs to be done to get to an agreement," said James.
Union spokesperson Jeff Begley said employees are fighting for better salary, organizational changes, and vacation days.
"What we've put on the table, it's a scale that goes two weeks the first year, three weeks the second year, four weeks after five years," said Begley.
Several workers expressed frustration that things haven't been settled.
"It makes us feel like we're not taken seriously and they're just trying to push their agenda and they're trying to make it something long and arduous so we just let go and it's not about to happen," said daycare worker Paul Cauchy.
In the meantime thousands of parents have had to find alternate care for their children.
The CSN has said that if a contract agreement is not reached by Friday, employees at 360 daycares who have been working without a contract for two years will go on strike.
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.
