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CUPE represents early childhood educators, assistants, cooks, and cleaners in the sector in both stand-alone and multi-sector locals. The bargaining units tend to be small and the wages low. The employers can be not-for-profit volunteer-run boards, charitable, parent-run boards, or for-profit.
- Number of members working in child care or ECE: 12,000
- Number of bargaining units: 98
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Sector profile: Child care
CUPE represents early childhood educators, assistants, cooks, and cleaners in the sector in both stand-alone and multi-sector locals. The bargaining units tend to be small and the wages low. The employers can be not-for-profit volunteer-run boards, municipalities, school boards or for-profit.
Counterpoint
A feminist social and economic recovery starts with universal child care
On March 8, 2021, for International Women’s Day, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised a recovery plan that will help women bounce back from COVID-19. A month later, the federal government tabled a budget that was said to focus on women, families and revitalizing the economy. More than half of that budget would go toward a national early learning and child care policy that prioritizes lowered parent fees and space expansion. But why has it taken Canada so long to move toward universal child care?
Counterpoint
The economy is in jeopardy without child care
“The major take-away from the pandemic, is that our economy cannot work without child care,” said Lee-Ann Lalli, CUPE National Child Care Working Group Co-Chair. “Any parent or guardian who has been at home trying to juggle work while providing for children can tell you it is an impossible task,” she said. Child care was one of very few sectors in our economy that did not close in many provinces and territories. It continues to operate either at near normal levels in BC, Alberta, and Quebec, or is made available to provide care to the children of other essential workers in Ontario and much of the East Coast.
News
Provinces transition to publicly-funded child care with new agreements
Nearly all provinces and territories have signed on to new child care and early learning funding from the federal government, bringing the possibility of a national child care system closer to reality. Ontario, the only province that has not yet signed an agreement, is expected to do so in the coming days.
Sectors of work
CUPE is Canada’s largest union, with over 800,000 members. It is also a very diverse union in terms of the sectors it represents. Our members work in eleven different sectors. Some sectors have over 150,000 members each, such as health care, education, and municipal services, while others have fewer members. However, our union relies on the strength of all its members, regardless of their sector or type of job. Learn more about each of these sectors and the specific issues facing each one.
Resources for bargaining committees
CUPE offers many tools to support locals during bargaining. They include CUPE National staff representatives, specialist staff support, the Collective Agreement Information System, bargaining-related workshops, regional office support, and materials for bargaining committees.
News
CUPE applauds renewed commitment to national child care system
The federal government has announced the extension of the Canada-wide early learning and child care bilateral agreements with 11 of 13 provinces and territories.