TORONTO — Early intervention and child care services for thousands of Toronto children and families could be disrupted by early June because of the Child Development Institute’s two-tier treatment of its employees.
CUPE 2132, representing about 100 child care, clinical and administrative staff at CDI, has requested a “no board” report, starting the countdown to a possible strike or lockout.
“Our members would like to be able to negotiate a fair collective agreement without disrupting important services for children and families,” said CUPE National Representative Peter Paulekat. “However, the employer’s final offer perpetuates unfair, two-tier treatment of its workers.”
Not only has CDI offered a base wage increase that is lower than what it negotiated with about 30 staff who belong to a different union, it has proposed significantly different increases for clinical and child care staff.
“Child Development Institute management seems to think that child care workers deserve less than everyone else,” Paulekat said. “They have also refused to harmonize sick time and health and welfare benefits so that all their staff are treated fairly. They are asking the lowest paid workers to accept the least.”
Other outstanding issues include pensions, job security and notice of layoff.
The Child Development Institute operates six early learning centres, the Parkdale-High Park Ontario Early Years Centre, and a wide range of early intervention and family violence services in Toronto. In 2005-06, staff provided services to more than 3,600 children and their families.
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For more information, contact:
Peter Paulekat, CUPE National Representative, 416-419-1281
Pat Daley, CUPE Communications, 416-616-6142
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