By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

In the wake of ongoing negotiations and heightened tensions, approximately 3,000 daycare workers across Quebec engaged in a strike last Friday, marking the third consecutive week of labour action. These workers, aligned with the Federation of Early Childhood Workers (FIPEQ) and affiliated with the Quebec Union Federation (CSQ), have been expressing their dissatisfaction with the current wage proposals. They will extend their strike tactics — particularly later openings — this week. Parents are advised to check with their daycares on operating hours.

The strike, which saw early childhood centres (CPEs) opening later at 10 a.m., is part of a broader strategy to delay openings progressively each Friday until a resolution is reached. This reflects a significant escalation from earlier considerations, where potential strike actions were anticipated in blocks of full days rather than half-days, as discussed by the Federation of Health and Social Services (FSSS), a CSN affiliate. This strategy aims to maximize pressure on the government while minimizing immediate disruption to families, though the cumulative effect is beginning to take a toll.

Stéphanie Vachon, CPE sector representative, has emphasized the critical need for government intervention to address the staffing shortages that plague the sector. “We have no choice but to take it to this level,” Vachon remarked, highlighting the urgent necessity for long-term solutions to employee retention challenges. The shortage of qualified staff has reached a crisis point, with existing employees often overwhelmed by increased workloads and responsibilities.

This labour action aligns with earlier demonstrations initiated by FIPEQ, signalling the possibility of a strike if the provincial government continued to show disinterest in negotiations. March 31 marked one year since FIPEQ submitted its urgent demands to the government, underscoring the prolonged nature of the dispute and the growing frustration among workers.

“We are mobilizing our members to put pressure on the government — however, we won’t wait forever if they continue to remain silent,” Valerie Gagnon, FIPEQ president, told The Suburban in an interview last spring. Her comments underscore the persistent urgency for improved salaries to cope with inflation and enhance staff retention. Some CPE workers earn as little as $18 an hour, with an average annual salary of $45,000, which Gagnon deems unacceptable. The disparity in wages compared to other public sector employees is a significant point of contention, fuelling the discontent among daycare workers.

Central to the strike is the wage dispute. The government proposed a 12.7% wage increase over five years for CPE workers, an offer that falls short compared to the 17.4% increase secured by other public sector employees earlier this year. The Treasury Board has pointed out that such increases for other sectors involved agreements on flexibility in work organization, affecting service delivery. However, daycare workers argue that the unique demands of their roles, which involve nurturing and educating young children, warrant greater consideration.

As the strike continues, its pressure tactics are causing additional strain on families, particularly as the holiday season approaches. The unpredictability of daycare operations is forcing parents to scramble for alternative childcare solutions, adding stress during what is typically a busy time of year. Many families are finding themselves in a precarious position, needing to balance work commitments with the sudden need for childcare. As negotiations, ongoing since the spring, have yet to yield significant progress, the potential for further operational disruptions looms large. n