http://www.cupe.ca/www/media/19880

Leave national child care agreements alone – CUPE to Harper
[February 6, 2006 11:44 AM]
OTTAWA – Building a universal child care program that offers real choice
for families begins with upholding the signed provincial agreements, says
the president of Canada’s largest union.

“Mr. Harper must respect the signed child care agreements,” said Paul
Moist, national president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
“Cancelling these agreements will destroy the hopes for a universal child
care program that families and child care workers have been fighting for
over the last 30 years.”

Study after study proves that a universal child care program offers the
best results for children in terms of education and social behaviour.

With all the provinces and opposition parties supporting the agreements, a
national child care program is long overdue. Yet, the Conservatives have
indicated they will cancel the agreements.

“A minority of Canadians voted for the Conservatives and that means Harper
must consult Parliament to get a clear mandate to move against the
agreements,” Moist said.

Without a universal program, families will continue their struggle to find
adequate care and child care workers will remain underpaid despite the
important education and nurturing work they do.

“As the Conservatives begin their minority government I strongly urge Mr.
Harper to consider the bigger picture and the long-term harm of ending the
agreements,” Moist said. “A deal is a deal - keep them intact and keep
moving child care forward.”

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CUPE is Canada’s largest union, with 540,000 members providing public
services in communities across the country, including health care, child
care, municipal services and more.

Contact: Paul Moist, National President, (613) 558-2873; Claude Généreux,
National Secretary-Treasurer (porte-parole francophone), (514) 884-5074;
Barry Doyle, CUPE Communications, (613) 294-9424.