There will indeed be an indefinite strike starting Wednesday morning in the early childhood centers where the Federation of Health and Social Services has members.
The FSSS, which is affiliated with the CSN, ended its day of negotiations on Tuesday, concluding that there was “no significant progress” which could have justified the postponement of its already announced strike.
She therefore launched her indefinite strike on Wednesday morning; the parents concerned will have to find an alternative solution for the following days.
However, the disengagement only concerns childcare centers where the FSSS is present.
As for the Federation of Early Childhood Workers, affiliated with the CSQ, it has still not announced the date of the launch of a possible indefinite strike, although its members voted in favor of such a mandate.
The FIPEQ rejects the idea of an indefinite strike this week. She negotiated with Quebec on Sunday and Monday until the evening. And she’s due to come back to the table on Thursday.
As for the Quebec Service Employees Union (SQEES), affiliated with the FTQ, it must announce the result of its strike vote on Wednesday morning.
The salary of “others”
The main pitfall now is the salary offered to “other” workers than educators in early childhood centers. These are employees in the kitchen, administration and maintenance.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Prime Minister François Legault reiterated that the parties were not very far from each other on the issue of the remuneration of educators. But the question of the salary of “other” childcare workers remains.
Quebec offered larger increases to educators, because there is a shortage and he himself admits that they are underpaid. What is more, there has been a drop in enrollment in Early Childhood Education Techniques programs in CEGEPs.
According to the Quebec offer, educators would receive from $ 21.38 per hour to $ 28.31 at the 10th level. He proposes to add two more steps, to the scale which currently has 10, to bring the hourly wage to $ 30.03 at the 12th step.
The FIPEQ, for example, asks from $ 22.85 per hour to $ 30.29 at the 10th echelon.
For the “other” workers, the FIPEQ affirms that the support employees of the childcare centers are behind by 20 to 35% compared to their peers in the public sector, depending on the job title.