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The bargaining team for 200 early childhood educators on P.E.I. held working sessions last weekend to develop proposals for a first contract.
The Union of Public Sector Employees represents early childhood educators who staff 48 of 81 centres in P.E.I.
"A national child care program has become as much a part of the Canadian dream as medicare," says Pam Campbell, co-chair for the union bargaining team.
"The federal government has put up the money. Now it's up to educators and operators to seize this opportunity to do the right thing for ourselves and our children."
Campbell said the workers represented by UPSE are out to turn another part of the national dream into a functioning reality.
UPSE president Sandy MacKay said the union will work hard to stay focused and not allow rumors and misinformation to complicate things.
"It's important for everyone to understand that we are not out to shut anyone down or make unreasonable demands. Our plans allow for all existing child care facilities to carry on.
"However, our first and last goal is always to provide quality care and education for our children. We can only get that with the highest quality early childhood educators. And we can only get that by offering wages and working conditions to match."
- reprinted from the Guardian (Charlottetown)