Second strike day underway in 400 Quebec daycares

Children play at a daycare on Wednesday March 28, 2018. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Workers from 400 daycares across Quebec are striking for a second day on Thursday.

More than 12,000 people are taking part, all members of unions with the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN) affiliated Fédération de la santé et des services sociaux (FSSS).

The strike mandate is for five days, to be exercised at the appropriate times.

Negotiations have been going on for several months, including on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the Quebec government.

The FSSS says it is still unsatisfied with the progress and wanted to keep up pressure by holding another day of walkouts.

Additional rallies are scheduled to take place in conjunction with the strike on Thursday.

The main issues in dispute are pay, workload, bonuses for workers in the regions and support for children with special needs.

The Quebec government is seeking greater flexibility in work organization to increase services to parents and children.

Quebec has already reached agreements with other union organizations representing daycare workers involved in the current negotiations.

These include the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ) affiliated Fédération des intervenantes en petite enfance (FIPEQ), representing 3,000 members, and the Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ) affiliated Syndicat québécois des employé(e)s de service and Syndicat des métallos.

-- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Feb. 6, 2024.