Childcare

Unionized CPE workers extend strike, prepare for walkout

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Early childhood educators affiliated with the Fédération de la Santé et des Services Sociaux (FSSS-CSN) demonstrated in Huntingdon on April 4, having extended what was to have been a three-day strike for an additional two days this week.

Sylvie Brunet, the union representative at the Kaleidoscope CPE in Hinchinbrooke, says that while the government is offering a 17.4 per cent salary increase and bonuses for those working in the regions, “Everything is a bit exaggerated.”

“You have to read the small print,” Brunet explains, noting the current offer includes several concessions for CPE workers in terms of holidays, and remuneration for work done when children are not present. “Instead of encouraging our young people to study in this field, with better conditions because it is still the least paid of all diplomas, they are going to force us to work more hours,” she laments.

Treasury Board president Sonia LeBel reiterated last week that the contract terms on the table are “generous and fair,” while noting the CSQ and FTQ unions have already accepted the government’s offer.

Brunet says negotiations were scheduled to take place on April 4, and that union negotiators were prepared to continue if there were signs of progress. She admitted however that the two sides remained far apart on key issues such as respectable salaries, reasonable workloads, and more support for children with special needs.

Brunet confirms that if a deal is not reached by April 8, the next step for CPE workers will be an unlimited walkout.

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CPE workers demand greater respect for the profession

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

“There is a clear lack of recognition,” says Nancy Ashton, the general manager for the Abracadabra early childhood centre (CPE), concerning the provincial government’s disregard for CPE workers.

Ashton has worked 30 years in the local CPE network, including 19 years as a manager. In an open letter published to the CPE’s social media accounts, she says the province is “asking educational daycare services to make a difference more than ever but is not giving them the tools to do so.”

She says current work conditions for certified CPE educators have resulted in workers deserting the profession in droves to work in school environments, the health sector, or for private companies. “For our CPE, this represents five educators who have left us for the school network,” she says, noting the CPE workers associated with Abracadabra are not unionized.

“This network, which is predominantly female, was built by the efforts of these same women, who are still fighting today for recognition over the quality educational services offered to Quebec children,” Ashton explained, noting that CEGEPs are seeing a decline in registrations as young women look to other careers that offer better working conditions and higher starting salaries.

“It’s embarrassing,” she concedes, noting educators have told her they would make more money working at a day camp over the summer. “We can’t compete, and I can’t increase the salary,” she adds. “The level of quality that we are managing to maintain is impressive considering all the challenges we are facing,” she says. “The educators are magnificent, but it is difficult.”

Ashton says she understands the government is managing a tight budget, but the province still managed to rapidly settle contract talks with the Association de la Construction du Québec for more than 60 per cent of the industry. “If construction stops, they are stuck. But if an educator stops, well, it won’t be obvious right away. Parents will manage, but only up to a certain point,” she explains.

She says that while the CPE workers at Abracadabra will not be joining unionized workers on the picket line in the event of a general strike, they are planning to carry out smaller actions internally to raise awareness among parents and to encourage their workers.

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Day camp registration season around the corner

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

Day camp registration season around the corner

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

With spring just weeks away, cities across the province are preparing for summer. Quebec City and Lévis recently announced rates, schedules and registration timelines for their summer day camps. Registration starts in early April with limited spots: 15,000 in Quebec City and 1,130 in Lévis.

With the support of 22 partner organizations, the Ville de Québec has an $11.5-million budget to cover 65 per cent of the weekly costs per child, with families paying the remaining 35 per cent. This budget includes $3.2 million for integration programs for children with disabilities. In Lévis, families pay 34 per cent and the city takes care of the remaining 66 per cent. Other Quebec cities have similar pricing structures for city-run camps.

In Quebec City, the early- bird registration price is set at $68 per week for the first child – a $2 increase from 2024 – with slightly lower rates for the child’s younger siblings, plateauing at four children or more. The city will also accommodate non-resident campers for $155 per child. Registration begins April 14 and prices go up May 6. Summer day camps will run from June 24 to Aug. 15.

Low-income families can receive financial assistance from the 22 partner recreational organizations listed on ville.quebec.qc.ca/citoyens/loisirs_sports/camps-de-jour.

Families pay more in Lévis, with the price set at $113 per child per week from June 30 to Aug. 8. Registration will take place April 7 and 8 in the west sector and April 9 and 10 in the east sector. The camp will run from June 30 to Aug. 8.

“Quebec City is a major city that offers the most accessible, most affordable day camps in the province,” said Coun. Marie-Pierre Boucher, member of the executive committee responsible for summer day camps.

In 2024, 18,449 children participated in the camps offered by Quebec City. Attendance fluctuated over the eight weeks because Quebec City offers families the option to register children for two, three or five days per week, with prices adjusted accordingly. Similar information for Lévis was not available at press time.

Both Quebec City and Lévis are currently hiring camp counsellors. Quebec City offers rates of $17.60 per hour for 35 days, while Lévis pays $16.50 per hour over 30 days. Quebec City has 2,000 positions to fill. The number of vacancies for Lévis was not available at press time. Both municipalities expect to fill the positions quickly.

City-run summer camps are offered in French only.  Voice of English-speaking Québec offers an English-language camp; visit veq.ca/directory/fit-fun-english-summer-day-camp to learn more.

For more information about city-run day camps in Quebec City, visit ville.quebec.qc.ca/ citoyens/loisirs_sports/camp-jour.

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Unionized CPE workers stage second one-day strike

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Unionized daycare workers braved the cold and walked off the job for a second time on February 6, after contract negotiations with the provincial government remained stalled following the start of strike action a week earlier.

Workers with the Kaleidoscope early childcare centre (CPE) in Hinchinbrooke took to the streets along with around 12,000 other members of the CSN-affiliated Fédération de la santé et des services sociaux (FSSS) to demand respectable salaries, reasonable workloads, and more support for children with special needs.

Workers from 51 CPEs across the Montérégie took part in protests in six locations. Those from Hinchinbrooke joined workers from Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Vaudreuil-Soulanges, and the Haut-Saint-Laurent at a rally in Chateauguay.

The province is currently offering a 12.5-per cent salary increase over five years, despite having reached agreements for a higher rate with three other unions representing daycare workers. Talks have been ongoing for eight months. The union says that unless there is some movement at the table, the third of five possible strike days will take place on February 17.

Mélanie Bouchard, the regional vice-president of the FSSS, says that it is becoming increasingly challenging to recruit new workers under the present conditions. Sylvie Brunet, the union representative at Kaleidoscope, adds that recruitment and staffing issues are even more pressing in rural daycare centres.

Brunet says finding qualified workers is especially difficult as many are turning toward higher-paid positions within schools for employment. “We are the lowest-paid college diploma in Quebec,” she laments, while suggesting the starting salary at a CPE is not competitive.

“There are not many who come forward,” Brunet says, noting resumes are rare, and often those applying do not have any training. This adds to the workload, as new employees may need to be shadowed or mentored by more qualified staff.

“It is a great job, but right now, it is not working with the kids that is the hardest. It is everything around this, everything that is required, and all the paperwork,” Brunet explains.

The two sides are expected to meet for at least two negotiating days ahead of the February 17 strike. Brunet says she is hopeful that an agreement with the government will soon be reached. “From what I understand, they are just dragging their feet a bit.”

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