Quebec Early Childhood Centre Workers Vote for Unlimited General Strike
"We Are All Essential!" Say Daycare Workers
Organizing for the strike vote in Rouyn-Noranda.
 On November 24, in general assemblies, members
of the Quebec Early Childhood Workers' Federation (FIPEQ-CSQ) voted
91.2 per cent in favour of an unlimited general strike mandate. That
strike mandate is to be implemented at a time deemed appropriate.
Approximately 3,200 workers were eligible to vote. On November 26, the
11,000 members of the Health and Social Services Federation of Unions
(FSS-CSN) working in daycare centres also voted 92.1 per cent during
general assemblies in favour of an unlimited general strike, which they
intend to implement on December 1 if there is no breakthrough in
negotiations with the government. The Service Employees Union of
Quebec (SQEES), an affiliate of the Quebec Federation of Labour, is
holding a vote this week on a general strike mandate.
Although
workers have been holding strike days since September and are strongly
supported by parents, the government has not moved satisfactorily to
meet or even consider their demands. Meanwhile, a general strike has
been ongoing since October 13 in two Early Childhood Centres where
workers are members of the Syndicat des Métallos/United
Steelworkers: one in Rouyn-Noranda in Abititi and the other in
Port-Cartier on the North Shore.
At the heart of these strike actions is the workers' claim that all
those who work in daycare centres are essential and must have wages and
conditions they consider acceptable and that defend the network by
helping to resolve the problems of recruitment and retention of staff.
This affirmation of the essential character of all staff, across all
job categories, has been reinforced by what workers actually
accomplished at the height of the pandemic, keeping the daycare centres
operating despite staff shortages, burnout and poor working conditions.
This allowed tens of thousands of parents, the vast majority of whom
were women, to continue to work with peace of mind to the extent
possible during the pandemic. The strong support for a general strike
if negotiations do not give rise to anything substantial demonstrates
their determination to tackle the problems in the here and now, at a
time when many are thinking of leaving. One of the slogans used in the
demonstrations says it well: "Going to Go or Going to Stay?"
 The
government must satisfy the daycare workers' just demands. It must
abandon its own narrow-minded denial of what the workers are affirming
with their demands. The government is accusing the workers of
blackmailing it and the population, of trying to gain "the upper hand"
in the negotiations, and even says it is preparing for special
back-to-work legislation if a general strike is called. It is trotting
out its same old "ability to pay" line to reject the demands for wage
increases for non-educator employment groups, when such increases are
crucial. It is doing this while happily spending millions of dollars on
pay-the-rich schemes to serve foreign monopolies.
The fight of the daycare workers is part of the struggle of working
people to implement the lessons learned during the pandemic, that
workers are the essential force that enables the society to
function. Their just demands in defence of their rights and
the rights of all must be supported by all and met. Child care
services, such as daycare centres, serve society and must be defended
and expanded by defending the human factor, those who deliver the
services.
Workers' Forum wholeheartedly supports the struggle of the
daycare workers and demands that the government abandon its
narrow-minded considerations and threats and meet their just demands.
This article was published in
November 29, 2021 - No. 113
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/WF2021/Articles/WO081131.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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