Thousands of daycare operators in Quebec opened their doors two hours later than normal on Monday.

It was a pressure tactic by workers who are in the process of negotiating their first contract with the provincial government.

Employees at home-based daycares, represented by the CSQ, have been in negotiations since February, but the government has put talks on hold until the end of August.

The union says most of its 12,500 members work 60 to 65 hours a week for less than minimum wage.

Monday's job action affected about 90,000 children, or roughly 40 percent of the children in daycare in Quebec.