Workers at the Quebec CPE nursery will go on strike on October 14 and 15

Child care workers are looking for wage increases and resources to better serve children with special needs.

Article content

The 11,000 unionized workers in Quebec Child Care Centers (CPEs) will go on strike on October 14-15.

Article content

The strikes will be the second and third days of a 10-day strike mandate adopted by CPE workers in an effort to pressure the government for a new contract.

In a statement published on Tuesday night, the CSN-affiliated organization Federation of Social and Health Services He said the strike decision was made after two days of talks with government negotiators.

“Unfortunately, we feel we have to keep up the pressure,” said union leader Stéphanie Vachon, adding that “management must understand that it is not in a position to impose rollbacks to the collective agreement.”

CPE workers have been without a contract for 18 months and are seeking wage increases for all job levels, as well as resources to better serve the children in their care, particularly those with special needs.

The starting wage is $ 19 an hour, which can increase to $ 25 an hour after 10 years. The union is seeking an average raise of $ 4 an hour in the first year of the contract, as well as annual indexation and a one percent pay increase.