Five Toronto child care centres locked out as wage talks stall

Five child care centres in Toronto shut down Monday after Ideal Child Services Group locked out workers 15 minutes before a strike deadline, escalating a contract dispute that has left hundreds of families scrambling to arrange alternative care.

The lockout affects centres run by the non-profit organization, which has not resumed operations. CUPE Local 2484, representing the workers, says the employer has refused to respond to union proposals presented in September. The union is demanding higher wages, better job security, enrolment in a pension program, and protections for workers who become sick or injured.

Workers at other CUPE-represented child care centres in Toronto earn $10 to $15 an hour more than ICSG staff. Felicia Coleman, a lead registered early childhood educator in the infant room at BonAdventure Child Care Centre—one of the five locked-out locations—said negotiations have dragged on for nearly a year with little movement from management. "I would much rather be in my classroom than standing outside," Coleman said. "I miss my kids, I miss working, I miss being in that environment."

Arman Afkhami, a parent with a 14-month-old child at one of the centres, expressed support for the workers' demands. "If I didn't have to work and take care of kids, I'd be with them at the picket lines," Afkhami said. "Life is getting more expensive. We want the best care for our kids. They should get better wages."

ICG acknowledged the closure in a statement, saying centres closed at 12:01 a.m. Monday due to the union's withdrawal of bargaining unit services. On social media, one of the affected centres, Children Are People Child Care, posted that bargaining remains at a standstill, adding that the organization remains committed to reaching an agreement through the collective bargaining process. The employer has not disclosed specific wage offers or a timeline for resuming negotiations.