The President of the Treasury Board, Sonia LeBel, is now discussing the possibility of a special law to impose working conditions on educators in early childhood centers (CPE), with whom negotiations are difficult to progress.
“I remain a person who prefers to get along, I will make every effort to get along, but it is certainly one of the tools available,” she said Thursday about this legislative route. “But as we speak, I remain in the perspective of wanting to hear myself. “
On Wednesday, 91.2% of FIPEQ union members adopted an indefinite strike mandate. It would be exercised “before the holidays”, at a time to be determined. The Federation of Health and Social Services (FSSS), affiliated with the CSN, must also survey its members this Thursday about a potential unlimited strike mandate.
Members of the FIPEQ-CSQ unions were on strike Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The members of the FSSS-CSN went on strike from Monday to Thursday. The unions demand better working conditions for the support staff of the childcare centers, such as the employees in the kitchen, administration and maintenance. Quebec offers them the same increases as other government employees, ie 2% per year for three years, or 6%, with a salary bonus for the lowest earners. This bonus increases the salary from 6 to 9%, depending on the job title.
According to Ms. LeBel, the unions’ posture is therefore one of “principle”, since educators get the increases they demanded.
“I think that sincerely, we have lost sight of the reality of parents, what they have experienced in recent months, especially with the pandemic,” she said sorry Thursday. “All this is for a question of principle whereas on the table, at present, both for educators and for other employment groups, there are significant salary increases, even more than what we have. given to the rest of the public service. “
The President of the Conseil du trésor called on the unions to be “reasonable”, to “sit down” and “resolve this situation”. She recalled that she must meet the CSQ this Thursday.
“We have done more for the CPEs than has ever been done in recent years,” she also insisted.
The Minister of Families, Mathieu Lacombe, for his part said he believed “that we have reached the moment when we must settle”.
“We must also be reasonable and tell ourselves that the money that is on the table is an offer that is historic,” he added. “There are already some who have started to receive it, 60% of the network is non-unionized, this is not the time to take parents hostage. It’s time to settle. “
– With The Canadian Press