CPES face one-day strike

Thousands of parents in the region and across the province have had to scramble for childcare today, Monday as, short of a last minute change, some 400 early childhood centers across the province will close for a one-day work stoppage

More than 21,000 Quebec children are expected to be affected. In all, 578 facilities will be closed. Some 11,000 teachers affiliated to the CSN are holding a first day of strike to condemn the deterioration of their working conditions.

Both parties broke off discussions last Thursday and had not resumed at press time Sunday.

The union claims that the government is being inflexible in its demands and wants to push back the retirement age from 60 to 61 years, or else it would be up to the union to assume part of future pension plan deficits.

The CSN insists that these demands are unacceptable, which has led to a stalemate, as the government refuses to negotiate this demand.

The CSN is also criticizing the Quebec government for having imposed budget cuts since 2014 that have had a detrimental effect on the quality of services offered to children.

The educators have been without a contract for two and a half years. They voted 94 per cent in favour of mandating five strike days, but have so far announced no other dates.