Negotiations for Home Childcare Providers - FIPEQ-CSQ consults with members

MONTREAL, April 19, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - A few months before the second collective bargaining progress gets underway for the 13,600 home childcare providers (HCP) who are members of the Fédération des intervenantes en petite enfance du Québec (FIPEQ-CSQ), and affiliated with the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ), the FIPEQ-CSQ and the Alliance des intervenantes en milieu familial de Montréal (ADIM-Montréal) are starting consultation with their 2 030 members.

"Through mobilization and solidarity, we have succeeded in articulating our demands and the value of our work. We intend to continue to build on this momentum," said the President of the ADIM-Montréal, Carole Demers. On Sunday, April 21, and Saturday, May 4, we will be holding two assemblies to consult with our members in Montréal. At all assemblies, HCPs are asked to express their point of view about the priorities they want to see highlighted at upcoming negotiations.

Focuses of improvement
The President of the FIPEQ-CSQ, Sylvie Tonnelier, pointed out that "the group agreement negotiated in 2010-2011 expires on November 30, 2013. We have to start defining our negotiating orientations and priorities to enhance our working conditions. After two years of experiencing, interpreting and applying the current agreement, we have identified a number of areas requiring improvement in the upcoming negotiations. In particular, we need to think about professional practice conditions for home childcare providers and the value of their work."

Large turnout of HCPs expected
The president of the ADIM-Montréal, Carole Demers is urging members to take part in the consultation assemblies. "The consultation stage is really important, because it enables us to define the problems our members are experiencing in the field and to formulate potential solutions. It is based on this consultation that our demands will be presented to the Ministère de la Famille for negotiation."

She recalled that the first group agreement signed by the HCPs improved their working conditions. "We fought for 15 years to win the right to unionize and negotiate. Now, we must assert our right to better working conditions and better social benefits. Our work is to provide quality public service and we are proud of it," concluded Carole Demers.

FIPEQ-CSQ Profile
The Fédération des intervenantes en petite enfance du Québec (FIPEQ-CSQ) represents about 13,600 home childcare providers and over 1,700 childcare centre employees. It is Québec's largest union representing childcare workers.

SOURCE: FEDERATION DES INTERVENANTES EN PETITE ENFANCE DU QUEBEC (FIPEQ-CSQ)

Source:
Christine Marceau, FIPEQ-CSQ Communications Advisor
[phone]

For information:
Claude Girard, CSQ Communications Advisor
[phone]