Terminology
Union: 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 Clinton
 Emmanuel 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:

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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/vacat
ion.php#time

CA
◦ Based on each collective
agreements – vacation
time is agreed upon
based on the number of
years of service
◦ Example:
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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, Bozica
Publication Date: 8 Jul 2003
Source: Child Care Connections-NS
http://www.childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/03/07/union-advantage-child-care-howunionization-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?
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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?
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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?
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Job protection / security
Negotiating for benefits / higher wages (wage
grids)
Job advancement (internal and external job
postings)
Seniority within a work place
Lobbying 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
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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
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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
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Campus Community Co-Op Day
Care Centre
Alternative Primary School
Parent Group

Orde Day Care Centre

Orde Day Care Satellite
U of T

Treetop Children's Centre
◦ U of T Early Learning Centre

Pineway Childcare Learning
Center

Keleemount Childcare Centre

Fraser School Community
Daycare

St Lawrence Co-op
◦ U of T Mississauga
◦ OISE/UT Early learning
Centre

Bonaventure Child Care Centre

Ontario Coalition for Better
Childcare
◦ Infant site
◦ Preschool site
◦ School Age site
CUPE –National
Affiliations
CUPE – Ontario
Waiting for Childcare
Canadian Child Care Federation
Ontario
Coalition for Better Childcare
For up-to-date information on local
2484
For more information and updates join us
on Facebook – “CUPE Local 2484 Childcare
workers”
Twitter: CUPE2484
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Advocacy
Job postings
Events / childcare rallies
And more….
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For more information on our local visit
our website:
http://2484.cupe.ca/
Or contact us:
memberoutreach2484@gmail.com