Members of the Alliances des intervenantes en milieu familial (ADIM) du Suroît affiliated to the Fédération des intervenantes en petite enfance du Québec (FIPEQ-CSQ) du Suroît are announcing two half-day strikes to be held next week. They are scheduled for Thursday December 12 and Tuesday December 17. 

ADIM SUROÎT is a union organization representing over 600 members responsible for educational services (RSE) in regulated and subsidized family settings in the Suroît region. 

Awaiting a new collective agreement since March 2023, the members hope that by implementing two half-days of late openings (delayed opening to 12 p.m.) in rotation, per region, the government will show itself to be more serious in the negotiation process.

“With inflation, our operating costs have skyrocketed. The government has let us operate at a loss for too long, and we had to protest and demonstrate to finally get dates for negotiation meetings. It's just not right! Finally, when the government wanted to start negotiating, it was with a schedule of rare days which, for many long weeks, proved to be unproductive. There's no question of penalizing children for food and educational activities. The network is in trouble, and we need to get our act together. We are forced to keep up the pressure so that the government will find the will to settle. Through our actions, we want to support our FIPEQ-CSQ negotiating committee in its superhuman efforts,” says Sylvie Bédard, president of ADIM SUROÎT.

For her part, FIPEQ-CSQ President Anne-Marie Bellerose says the decision was not taken lightly. “It's no pleasure for our members to take these actions, which can complicate matters for parents. However, the early childhood network is in shambles, government decisions are incomprehensible while the quality of the network is declining at a time when children and parents need a solid network. The government must stop neglecting the first link in our education system,” she concludes.