Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

On Thursday, January 23, more than 23 Early Childhood Centres (CPEs) in Outaouais with 600 members officially went on a one-day strike. Among this number, two CPEs from the Vallée-de-la-Gatineau were picketing in front of the office of Hull MNA Suzanne Tremblay on St. Joseph Boulevard in Hull.

In total, in Quebec, this strike affected more than 13,000 educators in 400 CPEs. Since April 2023, members of the Fédération de la santé et des services sociaux – Confédération des syndicats nationaux (FSSS-CSN) and employees have been without an employment contract.

Working conditions and salaries are also part of the demands. In terms of salaries, a rate of 12.5% ​​over five years was accepted in May 2024, but is far from unanimous. When hired, an educator earns an average salary of $21 per hour and could reach $28 per hour when they have reached the 10th salary level. According to the information collected, even if CPE employees received a salary increase of 17.4% over five years like government civil servants, they would remain well below the average salary of employees working in the school or health network.

On the other hand, due to the lack of manpower, educators must frequently work overtime and perform several tasks simultaneously. “My colleague has eight children in her care and must dress them all without any help,” says Véronica Albachiario, an educator in a CPE. Workers are also increasingly having to deal with children with special needs. “These can be autistic children or children who are not diagnosed,” explained Ms. Albachiario. “We see the needs, whether it is at the language or physical level,” she adds. “We do not have the necessary support. Our work in prevention is inadequate because we only intervene by putting out fires.”

The CSN asked parents to show patience and solidarity during this period of mobilization.

Photo: Striking CPE workers on St-Joseph Boulevard in Hull (January 23, 2025) (MG) Photo: Facebook Page Alfonso Ibarra Ramirez