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KINGSTON, Ont. Wednesday could have been the first day of a strike at the Queen’s University Daycare Centres in Kingston. But following a mediation session last Friday, a tentative agreement was reached between the union representing the 26 workers (CUPE Local 2665) and the management of the Daycare. Both the union membership and the Board of the Queen’s Daycare have ratified the results.
The agreement includes wage increases totalling 6 per cent over the three years of the contract that will expire on March 31st, 2010, as well as a $275.00 signing bonus. This is in addition to the pay equity adjustments granted by the province. Improvements to the pension contributions are also included in the last minute deal.
This is a relief for the workers who were ready for a strike but still hoping to avoid one. The settlement represents at least the kind of revenue stabilization they were looking for no longer being asked to accept only the annual pay equity increases. Over the course of several years this has started to show a decline in their real wages.
But the issue of adequate funding for accessible high quality daycare for all parents in Ontario is far from being settled, and CUPE 2665 members will certainly be part of that ongoing struggle.
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For more information, contact:
Barb Williams, CUPE national representative, 613-542-2069
Benoit Renaud, CUPE communications representative, 613-818-0077
Linda Norris, CUPE 2665 president at [email protected]
