TerminologyUnion: trade union(British English) labour union (Canadian English) “is an organization of workers who have banded together to

achieve common goals such as protecting the integrity of its trade, achieving higher pay, increasing the number of employees an employer hires, and better working conditions. 

Bargaining◦ The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the

employer on behalf of union members◦ “This may include the negotiation of wages, work rules, complaint

procedures, rules governing hiring, firing and promotion of workers, benefits, workplace safety and policies, maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment”

Collective Agreements ◦ “is an agreement between employers and employees which

regulates the terms and conditions of employees in their workplace, their duties and the duties of the employer. “

Question #1 - True of False

The first 5 unionized community based childcares were run by colleges and universities

False The first five community based unionized childcare centres were:Campus co-op daycare Centro ClintonEmmanuel Howard Park West End Parents Daycare Regal Road Daycare

Question #2 True or False

The College of Early Childhood Educators' mandate is to set standards of practice that all early childhood educators are accountable to meet and increase childcare wages.

False Establishing a code of ethics and standards

of practice for early childhood educators;Investigating  complaints from the public

about the conduct of its members and, if necessary, disciplining members;

Setting standards of practice that all early childhood educators are accountable to meet;

Assuring the public that members of the College will be held accountable for providing a high standard of care and early education for children.

Question #3 True of False

Unions only bargain wage, benefits and advocate on child care issues.

False We do bargain wage, benefits and advocate on child care issues. We also:

Handle grievances (complaints with the employer) Attending / lobbying for improvements to childcare

funding with the government and other organizations Educating and strengthen our union members Informing members of political childcare issues,

College of ECE, job openings etc. Provide childcare for other local, unions and political

events Help fund research, political action and campaigns Provide expertise on legislation, and employment

standards

Question #4 True or False

CUPE Local 2484 is a composite local with 26 child care sites. The local has had two strikes.

True• A composite means we have 26 different collective agreements.•We bargain approximately every two years and we have had only two strikes.

Pie of the employer

Employment Standards Act vs. Collective agreements Employment

Standards Act◦ Sets minimum

standards that an employer and employee must follow

Collective Agreements ◦ Negotiate

agreements between the employer and employees which regulate working conditions, wages, holidays/ vacations, training, grievance procedures. Often greater than minimum standards.

ESA vs. CA – Example: vacation time ESA

◦ Employees earn 2 weeks vacation time upon completion of every 12 -months

◦ “The ESA does not provide for any increases to the two-week vacation time entitlement although a contract of employment or collective agreement may do so.”

◦ http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/es/pubs/guide/vacation.php#time

CA◦ Based on each

collective agreements – vacation time is agreed upon based on the number of years of service

◦ Example: 1-2 years:13 days 3-6 years:18 days 7-9 years: 24 days 9 +: 28 days

Why unions?

Article: “You bet I care!”“Factors that May Influence Wage Levels: Factors that may influence average wage levels within a jurisdiction include: (i) the relative salary level for all occupations in the province or territory; (ii) the availability of recurring grants from the provincial/territorial government; and (iii) the extent of unionization.”

Author:  Doherty, Gillian; Lero, Donna; Goelman, Hillel; LaGrange, Annette & Tougas, Jocelyne

Publication Date:  1 May 2000

Source:  Centre for Families, Work and Well-Being, University of Guelph

http://action.web.ca/home/cfwwb/attach/ybic_report_1.pdf

Article: “The union advantage in child care: How unionization can help recruitment and retention”

“Overall, unionized child care workplaces contribute to higher quality programs and attract more experienced and more trained early childhood educators. Unions support a model of professionalism and workplace relationships that is inclusive, democratic and collective. They support professional development, affordable education and regulation of the service and the occupation. They are longstanding advocates for women's equality, and a publicly funded child care system. All of these aspects are important in and of themselves. But they also speak to some of the broader, interrelated issues that have affected the sector's ability to attract and keep qualified early childhood educators.”

Author:  Kass, Jamie and Costigliola, BozicaPublication Date:  8 Jul 2003Source: Child Care Connections-NShttp://www.childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/03/07/union-advantage-child-care-how-unionization-can-help-recrui

Article: “What Factors Influence Wages and Benefits in Early Learning and Child Care Settings?”

“Unionized women earn 90% of what unionized men make. Non-unionized women earn 77% of their male unorganized counterparts. In the child care sector:• Unionized child care staff earn 8.3% higher than their non-union counterparts.• Unionized child care settings are more likely to provide benefits such as supplementary healthcare, life insurance, employer top-up on maternity and parental and other benefits.

Author: Child Care Human Resources Sector Council

Publication Date: 1 Apr 2007

Source: Child Care Human Resources Sector Council

Docs/2.29%2520Factors_Wages%26Benefits_Eng%5B1%5D.pdf

Article: “Child care worker shortage looming”“But child care workers have been leaving the field in droves due to low wages and poor working conditions, said Andrea Calver of the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care. And the better pay and benefits offered by school boards is prompting those still working in the profession to abandon their daycare jobs for the classroom, causing staff shortages in child care centres, she added.”“The province needs to work with colleges and universities to train more early childhood educators and encourage them to stay by improving wages and benefits throughout the sector, the coalition says.”

Author:  Monsebraaten, Laurie

Publication Date:  26 Oct 2010

Source:  Toronto Star

http://www.childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/10/10/child-care-worker-shortage-looming

Who is local 2484?

Who is local 2484?Executive Board

◦ President ◦ Vice-President

Advocacy◦ Vice-President

OCBCC ◦ Recording

Secretary◦ Secretary -

Treasurer

Members ◦ There are 380

members – all childcare workers

What does our local do? Bargains wages and benefits Ensures employers comply with pay equity, health and

safety and human rights legislation Handles grievances (complaints with the employer) Advocates on child care issues Lobbies for improvements to child care funding with the

government and other organizations Trains members in bargaining, grievance handling,

worker rights Informs members about child care issues, College of

ECEs, job openings etc. Educates and strengthens our union Provides childcare for other locals, unions and political

events Help fund research, political action and campaigns

Where do the union dues go to?

Roughly half of the dues money goes directly to:◦CUPE National/Ontario Division to cover the

cost of central campaigns◦staffing◦ legal ◦WSIB◦Health and Safety ◦strike funds◦support services◦operating costs ◦etc.

Why are unions important to you?Job protection / securityNegotiating for benefits / higher wages (wage

grids)Job advancement (internal and external job

postings) Seniority within a work placeLobbying for Pay Equity and Wage

Enhancement Grants Lobbying for social justice issues for example:

increasing the minimum wage, universal childcare, universal post-secondary education.

Paid leaves

Unionized Centers Sunny Faces Day Care

Centre - St. Benedict Site Highview Wilson Child

Care Tumpane Child Care

Learning Centre Children Are People

Education Brookhaven Child Care Junction Day Care Centre Runnymede Adventure

Club Hawthorne on Essex

Daycare

Lawrence Heights Community Day Care Centre

Centro Clinton Day Care

Garrison Creek Community Day Care

West End Parents Day Care Centre

Ferncliff Daycare And After School Group

Baycrest Child Care Centre

Unionized Centers Hester How Day Care

Centre Progress Childcare #1 Alternative Primary School

Parent Group U of T

◦ U of T Early Learning Centre

◦ U of T Mississauga◦ OISE/UT Early learning

Centre Bonaventure Child Care

Centre Ontario Coalition for Better

Childcare

Campus Community Co-Op Day Care Centre

Orde Day Care Centre Orde Day Care Satellite Treetop Children's Centre Pineway Childcare

Learning Center Keleemount Childcare

Centre Fraser School Community

Daycare St Lawrence Co-op

◦ Infant site ◦ Preschool site ◦ School Age site

Affiliations

CUPE –National

CUPE – Ontario

Waiting for Childcare

Canadian Child Care Federation Ontario

Coalition for Better Childcare

For up-to-date information on local 2484For more information and updates join us on Facebook – “CUPE Local 2484 Childcare workers”Twitter: CUPE2484

◦Advocacy ◦Job postings ◦Events / childcare rallies ◦And more….

For more information on our local visit our website:

http://2484.cupe.ca/

Or contact us: memberoutreach2484@gmail.com