Daycare workers' union reaches agreement in principle with Quebec

Children's backpacks and shoes are seen at a daycare centre in Langley, B.C., on Tuesday, May 29, 2018. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

The Syndicat québécois des employées et employés de service (SQEES) reached an agreement in principle with Quebec on Monday concerning the collective agreement for its childcare workers.

The SQEES, along with the Steelworkers union, both affiliated with the FTQ, said in a press release that the agreement in principle will be presented to members for adoption in January 2025.

Members of the union went on strike for three days in December, affecting a total of 19 daycare centres.

Sylvie Nelson, president of the SQEES-FTQ, said she was satisfied with the agreement in principle.

"We wanted to be recognized, we wanted our work to be recognized and we wanted to be able to resolve certain issues," she said in an interview.

"Our negotiating committee worked all day today [Monday] to reach an agreement in principle," she added.

The collective agreement for daycare workers expired in March 2023. The dispute mainly concerned wages.

"Together with Minister Suzanne Roy, I am announcing an agreement in principle with two FTQ-affiliated unions for more than 730 childcare workers," wrote Sonia LeBel, Treasury Board President, in a post on X on Monday evening. She added that she and Minister Roy would not comment until the members had voted on the agreement.

On Sunday, the CSQ-affiliated Fédération des intervenantes en petite enfance (FIPEQ) reached an agreement in principle with Quebec.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Dec. 23, 2024.