Almost 14,000 daycare workers staged a one-day strike Monday as part of a labour dispute with government, in a work stoppage that will affect about 92,000 kids.
FIPEQ, a union affiliated with the Confederation of Trade Unions of Quebec (CSQ), said that many employees put in about 50 hours of work per week but receive the same pay as their counterparts in the CPE system who work 35 hours.
“It's time to negotiate a collective agreement commensurate with the work we do every day for the children of Quebec,” Kathleen Courville, president of FIPEQ-CSQ, told strikers over a megaphone.
The workers are fighting for recognition of their status as autonomous workers, as well as pay for work they do when children are not in their care.
“The cleaning, the cooking, taking calls, sometimes after hours; it's not just 9 to 5, it’s not just 7 to 5. It's over. We're not paid for those extra hours we're working,” said home daycare owner Joanne Lavertu.
Another issue is that coordinating offices which act as go-betweens for the daycares and the government interpret laws differently on everything from daycare spots to labour issues.
“All of our demands stay with no concrete answers,” said Courville.
About 90 per cent of the 13,600 union members have supported a strike following 28 unproductive negotiation sessions, the last one taking place on June 13, according to the union.
Union brass would not confirm when or if other strike days were planned, as such arrangements require a mandate from union members.
“The Ministry of Families has been very closed on questions concerning the space for coordinators and the decisions that they take concerning the daycares. This question is a source of great frustration. Since the first meetings, the FIPEQ has insisted on a negotiated settlement to these problems,” wrote FIPEQ Vice-President Melanie Lavigne in a press release.
Families Minister Francine Charbonneau denounced the strike.
“I find it disappointing that the two unions decided to go out like that,” said Charbonneau. “We not advancing fast but it’s probably the best way to come to the best decisions. There’s no need to rush. Sometimes hurrying up isn’t the way to go.”
Charbonneau said there have been almost 30 meetings on the issue, and there will be another Tuesday. Charbonneau said their demands are being heard.
“I would say there's room for everything. What we need to do is sit down and talk,” she said.
But the union insists that the labour action is necessary.
“Unfortunately, with the way the Liberal government has reacted to our demands, we cannot stay silent. We have decided to intensify our pressure tactics in order to put some real pressure on the government at the negotiation table,” said Courville.
Their collective agreement expired last November 30.
A separate group of private daycares has vowed to strike for five non-consecutive days this summer to increase pressure on the Quebec government in their labour dispute.
-With files from The Canadian Press
