(Montreal) Members of the Federation of Early Childhood Workers of the CSQ (FIPEQ-CSQ) voted 95% in favor of a six-day strike.
According to what the union has indicated, the days will be used at the appropriate time. Collective agreements expired 18 months ago for these workers.
“We know that all the interveners are exhausted and need support”, underlines the political person in charge of the negotiations, Anne-Marie Bellerose.
The Federation met with the Minister responsible for Government Administration, Sonia LeBel, on Tuesday and welcomed the Minister’s openness to finding solutions to the negotiations.
No offer was made following this meeting, the last one dating from July 13.
The union therefore intends to leave room for negotiation in the coming days, while the next meeting is scheduled for October 7.
It is therefore not expected that the days of strike will be used before this date, “unless there is a blockage”, indicated the president of the FIPEQ-CSQ, Valérie Grenon.
“Strategically, if we use our strike days now, we will burn all our weapons. They must be used at the right time. As soon as there is a blockage, we see that we can no longer move forward, we will use our days of strike ”, underlined Mme Grenon.
FIPEQ requests
The Federation is asking for salary increases for educators totaling 27% over three years for the first step and totaling 21% over three years for the last step.
Currently, the salary for a qualified educator is $ 19 per hour in the first step and $ 25 per hour in the 10e and last rung.
The Federation is also asking for a “COVID bonus”, stressing that the service offered by day care centers was considered to be an essential service during the pandemic.
The FIPEQ represents 13,000 members in the various childcare services, including the CPEs.
The federation of the Centrale des unions du Québec is also calling for a minimum level of employment for those who support educators: maintenance workers, specialized educators and others.