3 strike days in Quebec’s early childhood centres in December amid unlimited strike mandate

The strike movement is spreading in Quebec’s early childhood centres (CPEs), as one of the major unions affiliated with the Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ) announces three days of strike in December.

That union is the Syndicat québécois des employé(e)s de service (SQEES), whose members will walk out on Dec. 4, 11 and 18. These will be full days of strike.

After deposing a petition with more than 20,000 signatures at the National Assembly on Wednesday with the Parti Quebecois – where they asked for support in receiving better pay, less workload and more resources to provide better services to children, union leaders hope these actions will bring new offers to the table from provincial government negotiators.

“The issue is that salaries in the childcare services are way less than in school for the same job titles. So, we can talk about even in some job titles a 45 per cent difference,” said Jennifer Genest, vice-president of member services at SQEES.

The strike mandate, which was adopted by more than 90 per cent by the members, even provides for an unlimited general strike. But, for the moment, only three days of strike have been announced.

“It will be a big issue, but I support the strike because I feel like the educators need better recognition and as a former instructor as well of early childhood education I see the support that they need,” said Matea Dixon, a mother and formerly early childhood education instructor and special education teacher.

Union representatives and CPE members are asking for parents’ support in finding solutions in advance for the planned strikes on December 4th, 11th and 18th.

“It’s not the first time. Three years ago we had to do a strike also negotiating with the government with our daycares, they were really supportive at that time and I am sure it will be the same thing this time also,” said Genest.

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The SQEES has members in around 15 early childhood centres.

For its part, the Fédération des intervenantes en petite enfance (FIPEQ), affiliated with the CSQ, has already started its strike, in which daycare service are opening later and later from week to week.

Meanwhile the Fédération de la santé et des services sociaux, affiliated with the CSN, already has a five-day strike mandate as a possibility, but it has not yet announced that its members will exercise it.

The dispute with Quebec mainly concerns salaries, but also the burden of tasks and the expected flexibility in terms of work organization.

While three days of strikes are planned for December, union representatives will be going back to the table to negotiate terms for the collective agreement with a large focus on the two main issues over monetary clauses and better support for children with special needs.

“Their offer at that time was 12.7 per cent of increase over a five-year period. It’s exactly what they’re offering right now for the daycare, so why something that was rejected that much for the two other services, are put back on the table for the daycares. There’s no way that our members are going to agree on that salary. We need to have a new offer,” said Genest.

“They need the mental support and they need the financial support to be able to help all children to be the best and to succeed in society because that’s what we want as a whole, for them to succeed and have academic achievement,” added Dixon.

Negotiations for a new collective agreement for daycare workers has been going on for a year and a half. Union reps and daycare workers say that if the three strike days in December aren’t effective, more could planned for 2025.

“With the strike we have three days now, looking forward to January if it’s not settled before Christmas. Unfortunately if we need to go on an unlimited strike, we will do so,” said Genest.

–With files from La Presse Canadienne