Daycare Workers' Strike Upholds Right to Child
Care
The Fédération des intervenantes en petite
enfance du Québec (FIPEQ-CSQ) has calledtwo
one-day strikes on November 1 and 5 in
the early childhood centres (CPEs) they
represent. Early childhood educators have been
holding rotating strikes to demand working
conditions that will attract and retain
personnel in the public sector, and address
unsustainable workloads.
In mid-October, following actions by child care
workers, the Quebec government announced an
offer of a 12 per cent increase over three years
for "qualified educators" only. A "qualified
educator" is one one who holds a diploma of
college studies in early childhood education or
equivalent training recognized by the Minister
of Families. The government offered them a lump
sum payment of up to 17 per cent for those who
agree to increase their work week from the
average range of 32-36 hours to 40 hours per
week. Other child care workers would receive
less.
The union considered the offer and made
comparison charts to inform and consult its
membership.
The union also
conducted a survey of 1,099 child care workers
in the network, just after the government offer
from October 15-17, which also revealed that 69
per cent of employees have considered leaving
their jobs because of exhaustion over the past
three years. "A bonus for working 40 hours or
more will certainly not solve this problem! This
is what the government is stubbornly offering
child care workers in its latest offer at the
bargaining table," said Valérie Grenon,
president of the FIPEQ-CSQ.
Workers stated in the survey that they did not
have time to perform the many tasks required of
them (78 per cent), that there were insufficient
resources to provide what children with special
needs require (65 per cent) and that staff
shortages prevent the taking of recuperation
days (60 per cent).
Following continued recent negotiations, the
FIPEQ-CSQ says it is clear that the mandates
have still not been given by the President of
the Conseil du trésor, Sonia Lebel, to settle
the negotiations. The FIPEQ-CSQ submitted a
counter-proposal to the government on October
24. "The solutions put forward by the FIPEQ-CSQ
are aimed at slowing down the exodus of
experienced workers, but also at attracting new
workers. On these two aspects, the government's
proposal does not make it possible to solve the
problems that afflict our network," explains the
president of the FIPEQ-CSQ, Valérie Grenon.
In a November 1
statement the union says, "Our members would
like elected officials to discuss with the
government the importance of substantially
improving working conditions for daycare
workers. More specifically, how does the
government intend to recruit 17,800 educators
and thousands of workers from other job
categories without a satisfactory settlement in
the current negotiations? Why did it wait more
than 16 months before making its first wage
offer and why, after 20 months, are the mandates
still late in coming?"
The FIPEQ-CSQ says it is looking forward to an
important day of negotiations on November 4 to
receive feedback on the solutions it is bringing
with its counter-proposal tabled on October 24.
"The latest offer from Quebec risks accentuating
the exodus from our network, particularly among
specialized educators who find themselves paid
less than unqualified personnel. We can clearly
see in our surveys that educators are asking for
more specialized educators, more pedagogical and
technical support agents, more attendants -- in
short, more help to accompany children with
special needs and to support their daily tasks,"
concluded Ms. Grenon.
The union also
conducted a survey of 1,099 child care workers
in the network, just after the government offer
from October 15-17, which also revealed that 69
per cent of employees have considered leaving
their jobs because of exhaustion over the past
three years. "A bonus for working 40 hours or
more will certainly not solve this problem! This
is what the government is stubbornly offering
child care workers in its latest offer at the
bargaining table," said Valérie Grenon,
president of the FIPEQ-CSQ.
In a November 1
statement the union says, "Our members would
like elected officials to discuss with the
government the importance of substantially
improving working conditions for daycare
workers. More specifically, how does the
government intend to recruit 17,800 educators
and thousands of workers from other job
categories without a satisfactory settlement in
the current negotiations? Why did it wait more
than 16 months before making its first wage
offer and why, after 20 months, are the mandates
still late in coming?"
