Achi news desk-
After months of delay, negotiations have finally begun to renew collective agreements for thousands of nannies at family day care centers in Quebec.
However, the largest workers’ group, the Fédération des intervenantes en petite enfance du Québec (FIPEQ-CSQ), says it is not satisfied with the proposal it received from the Quebec government on April 11.
“If he wanted to expel family day care centers, if that’s his solution then he found it. Some people will leave. How do you expect to attract the next generation if you cut the working conditions?” said FIPEQ president Valerie Gernon, arguing that Quebec is moving backwards.
She notes that Quebec law calls for workers to have six hours of mandatory professional training per year.
The government used to pay $85 for the mandatory training, but now it doesn’t want to.
According to her, Quebec also wants to abolish a committee that will discuss child care issues.
Financially, it’s not enough, Gernon argued.
Family daycare workers are not paid the same as those in public daycare centers.
The latter are paid by the hour, while those working in family settings receive a subsidy from the family office to cover their salary and the expenses of the after-school children, such as groceries and toys.
Gernon says that a daycare center with six children, for example, gets an increase equivalent to 12.7% over five years from Quebec, but inflation is higher than that.
Despite the somewhat frustrating start to negotiations, FIPEQ, which represents 8,500 family day care workers, says it is determined to roll up its sleeves.
Another negotiating session is scheduled for May 6, and Gernon says the government appears willing to add more dates.
FIPEQ says it has not yet sought mediation, but is not closing the door on the idea.
“At the moment it’s not,” Gernon said when asked if workers are already talking about more intense pressure tactics.
The collective agreement for 8,500 FIPEQ family daycare workers expired on March 31, 2023.
FIPEQ first submitted its requirements in September 2023.
On April 11, 2024, the Quebec government submitted its proposal.
She has not yet submitted an offer to public daycare workers.
FIPEQ represents over 11,000 child care workers in various types of day care centers across Quebec.
— This Canadian Press report was first published in French on April 25, 2024.
