On Friday, as roughly 70 child care workers ran inventive, world-expanding programs, the President of CUPE 2484 attempted to hand deliver a message from workers and parents to the head office of Ideal Child Services Group. Management, though, was nowhere to be found, so Jess Tomas slid the petition and reams of signatures under the door of their darkened office.

The petition – signed by hundreds of parents and family members of children enrolled at one of Ideal’s five child care sites across Toronto – called on management to invest in workers with a fair wage and improved working conditions, including increased paid programming time, adequate sick days, and WSIB coverage.

“It’s not hard to see the metaphor here. While women are on the floor at these centres doing this important, demanding, and creative work, management is not alongside them. This entire round of bargaining management has hidden behind a veil of secrecy,” said Jess Tomas, an early childhood educator and President of CUPE 2484 which represents over 600 early years’ professionals in Toronto. “They’ve said that the city has tied their hands, but we know that’s not true. And they’ve refused to open their books so we can bargain fairly. All that they have done is make clear that they refuse to invest in their workers or the children in their care.”

Workers at Ideal are among the lowest paid unionized child care workers represented by CUPE 2484. They earn, on average, $5 an hour less than counterparts at other 2484 centres and many have been forced to take second jobs to make ends meet as the cost of living has continued to increase in Toronto.

With the strike deadline of July 22 fast approaching, workers have been meeting with parents regularly and the response has been overwhelming.

“I heard from dozens of families who support these brave workers because they know what’s best for workers is what’s best for their children,” said Tomas. “We’ve also seen an outpouring of community support with more than 500 letters sent to the Board of Directors. It means so much to these workers knowing they can count on such widespread and meaningful allyship.”

CUPE 2484 members will be bringing free ice cream trucks to each centre this week as they update parents once more on the state of bargaining. The two sides return to the table for their final scheduled day of negotiations tomorrow.

Those who want to send a message of support are encouraged to visit www.cupe.ca/ideal.