Quebec reaches agreement in principle with family-run daycares after month-long strike

The Fédération des intervenantes en petite enfance du Québec (FIPEQ-CSQ) announced Sunday that an agreement in principle has been reached with the Legault government.

This only concerns the sector of those responsible for family educational services (RSE), which has nearly 9,000 members. Discussions are still ongoing for the sector of Early Childhood Centres (CPE).

“Negotiations resumed yesterday [Saturday] morning in an intensive manner with the Ministry of Families. Today, we are pleased to announce the good news of the agreement in principle,” said FIPEQ-CSQ President Anne-Marie Bellerose in an interview.

The agreement will be submitted to the unions on Wednesday. They will then present it to their members to obtain their approval. “The dates of the voting meetings have not yet been decided at this stage,” said Bellerose.

In the meantime, the FIPEQ-CSQ is suspending the application of the concerted actions of the RSEs.

“We suspended the half-day strikes that were starting tomorrow (Monday). Since we have an agreement, it was clear to us that we were going to suspend the pressure tactics until the vote,” said Bellerose, who thanked the parents for their support.

According to the office of the Minister responsible for Government Administration and Chair of the Conseil du trésor, Sonia LeBel, this agreement is for a period of five years (2023-2028) and covers more than 70 per cent of those responsible for a family educational childcare service.

“It will increase the number of places, encourage the care of infants (under 18 months) and improve the attraction and retention of RSEs,” a press release states, emphasizing that “the details will remain confidential until members have voted on the content of the agreement.”

“We will wait to present the agreement to our unions and members before disclosing it publicly, they are the first to be interested. As soon as it is known, the important information will be communicated to the entire population,” assured Bellerose.

On Friday, FIPEQ-CSQ members held a fourth walkout lasting a few hours. Earlier in the day, they had voted 86 per cent for a new six-day strike mandate, to be exercised at the appropriate time.

The FIPEQ-CSQ represents nearly 12,000 members across the province.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews