More than 400 Quebec daycares to go on strike Tuesday and Wednesday

Early childhood centre workers, members of the CSN-affiliated Fédération de la santé et des services sociaux, protest during a one-day strike in Montreal on Jan. 23, 2025. (Graham Hughes / The Canadian Press) (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)

More than 400 daycares in Quebec (CPEs) will be affected by two strike days on Tuesday and Wednesday.

These are the fourth and fifth strike days for workers belonging to the CSN-affiliated Fédération de la santé et des services sociaux (FSSS).

Their original strike mandate was for five days. The union and its members will meet on Wednesday to decide on additional pressure tactic mandates that could go as far as an unlimited general strike.

In a bid to avoid two more strike days and conclude this long negotiation, the Treasury Board tabled a global offer at the end of last week. Negotiations were still underway on Monday.

“Negotiations in the CPEs intensified at the end of the week with the CSN and an agreement can be reached quickly,” said Treasury Board President Sonia LeBel on Monday.

However, the gap between the parties remained wide, as the FSSS announced on Monday morning that the strike days on Tuesday and Wednesday would be maintained.

The dispute concerns wages, workload, bonuses for workers in the regions and assistance for children with special needs.

The framework has been established, says LeBel

The other union organizations involved in negotiations, which are affiliated to the CSQ and the FTQ, reached an agreement in principle several months ago. These agreements have been ratified by 66 per cent, 88 per cent and 100 per cent of the members of the unions concerned.

LeBel reminded the CSN federation on Monday that “the framework established during this round of negotiations will not be called into question; it’s a question of fairness towards all the other unions that have already reached agreements.”

These agreements provide for the same pay increases as those obtained by government employees, i.e. 17.4 per cent over five years. In some cases and at certain levels, the increase is higher.

The salary of a qualified childcare worker in a CPE rose from $21.60 per hour to $25.15. Quebec wanted to attract more candidates to the profession at a time when there is a shortage of childcare workers.

Given the shortage, bonuses will be granted to those who agree to work more hours than their normal work week. For example, an hourly bonus of $7 will be added from the 36th to the 39th hour of work in the week.

This premium will rise to $17 from the 40th hour worked in the week. After 41 hours of work, educators will be paid at time and a half.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French March 17, 2025.