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Child care workers in Toronto, members of CUPE Local 2484, marched on City Hall yester-day, in support of their fight for a decent wage.

The 23 workers at the Progress Child Care Centre have been on strike since May 4, seeking a first contract. While the average wage for Ontario day care workers is $13.50 an hour, these women earn on average $8.50. The employer has offered them an increase of four to six cents an hour.

The workers have received strong support from parents who met to demand a general meeting and new elections for the board, despite threats from management. The centres executive director telephoned parents to tell them the meeting was illegal!

This behaviour is typical of the problems that encouraged workers at the centre to unionize in the first place. They approached CUPE last year when they were facing discrim-ination in hiring, compensation and discipline.

Management at the centre has refused to open up its books to the union, but an access to information request has been filed. Of particular interest are the salaries paid to the director and two supervisors.