Tired of seeing that real negotiations have still not started with Quebec in the field of childcare services, the FIPEQ warns that it will soon ask its members in the CPEs for a mandate for heavier pressure tactics “which will give us possibly lead to a strike.”
The Federation of Early Childhood Workers (FIPEQ), affiliated with the CSQ, gives the government until the end of April to submit its offers, so that negotiations for the renewal of collective agreements in Early Childhood Centers childhood (CPE) can begin.
“If by the end of April, the government has not made a deposit, we will seek from the members mandates for heavier actions, (which) will possibly lead us to a strike,” warned Valérie Grenon, president of FIPEQ, in interview with The Canadian Press.
“We’ve been laughed at enough,” says Mme Grenon.
FIPEQ represents more than 11,000 workers in childcare services, whether CPE or family daycare services.
The union federation submitted its demands in September and has been waiting since then for negotiations to begin in earnest. She maintains that Quebec has not yet submitted its offers.
Asked about this on February 22, the president of the Treasury Board, Sonia LeBel, said that she wanted to wait for the submission of requests from the CSN and the FTQ as well. “I only have the CSQ which has filed for the moment. We will prepare the government offer,” but “it takes all the requests before doing so,” the minister said at the time.
For the first time, the CSQ wishes to negotiate for both groups of workers at the same time, although their method of remuneration is different. Workers in CPEs are employees paid by the hour. Instead, those responsible for childcare services in a home environment receive a subsidy from the Ministry of Families to offset expenses related to childcare in their home.
Moreover, the FIPEQ negotiation for Educational Service Managers (RSE) in family settings is not at the same point as that in CPEs. “Meetings are also rare, although a little more frequent than at the CPE table,” indicates the union federation.
In addition to seeking a mandate for heavier pressure tactics from its members in the CPEs, the FIPEQ is weighing other options, such as a complaint for bad faith negotiation against the Ministry of the Family.
“Everything is being considered to make things happen and have collective agreements that meet our needs. If we have to go that far… We are in the process of evaluating all the perspectives,” summarized Mme Grenon.
“Our goal is to settle before we go on summer vacation,” she added.
For its part, the Federation of Health and Social Services (FSSS), affiliated with the CSN, which also represents thousands of workers in childcare services, requested conciliation.
Quebec is experiencing a shortage of workers in childcare services. What’s more, the Quebec government has committed to opening more places to meet demand.