Family-run daycares, Quebec reach agreement in principle after month-long strike
Agreement doesn't include CPEs
Quebec's Family Ministry and the union representing early childhood educators announced Sunday that they reached an agreement in principle after a strike that started in November.
60,000 children and their parents have been affected by the strike as family-run daycares and CPEs — publicly funded daycares — have been opening later than usual.
Family-run daycares were asking the government for a larger subsidy while CPE workers are still seeking a salary increase.
"Our members have shown how proud they are to offer a service to families, and their exemplary mobilization has been a true demonstration of unity," wrote Anne-Marie Bellerose, president of the Fédération des intervenantes en petite enfance du Québec (FIPEQ-CSQ), in a statement.
"We would also like to thank parents for their support over the past few weeks."
The five-year agreement targets more than 70 per cent of Quebecers in charge of family daycares, will help attract and keep more managers in the system, encourage them to take in infants under 18 months, and help increase the number of spaces, according to Treasury Board President Sonia LeBel and Family Minister Suzanne Roy.
Négos/RSGE: La ministre de la Famille <a href="https://twitter.com/suzanneroy_caq?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@suzanneroy_caq</a> et moi annonçons une entente de principe avec la FIPEQ-CSQ pour près de 9000 resp. de services de garde éducatifs en milieu familial. Ns n’émettrons pas de commentaire d’ici à ce que les membres se prononcent. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/polqc?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#polqc</a>
—@slebel19It will be submitted to the unions in the coming week for their approval.
The agreement doesn't include CPEs and negotiations are ongoing.
With files from CBC's Steve Rukavina and The Canadian Press