Quebec child-care workers at 400 daycares vote in favour of strike mandate

Child-care workers at non-profit daycare centres across Quebechavevoted to give their union a six-day strike mandate, threatening a walkout unless there is progress at the negotiating table.

The CSN, the labour federation representing some 11,000 workers in 400 early childhood education centres (CPEs),said that 94 per cent of its membersvoted in favour of a strike mandateon Thursday.

"It shows the widespread discontent from this sector's workers," said CSN President Jacques Ltourneau.

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While no strike dates have been set, the labour federationsays its memberscan nowwalk off the job at the "opportune moment."

The CSN-affiliated daycare workers have been without a collective agreement since March 31, 2015.

Several bargaining sessions are scheduled over the next several weeks, and union representatives say they are hopeful that the threat of a six-day strikewill speed up the pace of negotiations.

Most of the non-monetary issues have now been settled, however, talks are now stalled over salary increases and pension issues, as well as the ratio of children to workers, and the participation of childcare workers on CPEgoverning boards.