EXCERPTS
The 11,000 unionized workers in Quebec child-care centres (CPE) will go on strike on Oct. 14 and 15.
The walkouts will be the second and third days of a 10-day strike mandate adopted by CPE workers in an effort to exert pressure on the government for a new contract.
In a statement published Tuesday evening, the CSN-affiliated Fédération de la santé et des services sociaux said the decision to strike was taken after two days of talks with government negotiators.
“Unfortunately we feel we have to keep up the pressure,” said union official Stéphanie Vachon, adding that “management needs to understand that it is not in a position to impose rollbacks of the collective agreement.”
The CPE workers have been without a contract for 18 months and are seeking salary increases for all job levels as well as resources to provide better services to the children in their care, particularly those with special needs.
The entry-level wage is $19 an hour, which can increase to $25 an hour after 10 years. The union is seeking an average $4 an hour increase in the first year of the contract, as well as annual indexation and a one-per-cent pay increase.