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Washington state poised to act on child care
teacher pay
Member mobilization gathers support for career
and wage ladder
Child care teachers in Washington state have spent the better part of two years lobbying for legislative recognition of the important work they do. Their hard work, both in the Legislature and with children, is on the verge of paying off.
Collaborating with the leadership of AFT Washington and the Economic Opportunity Institute, the Child Care Workforce Alliance of Washington has ushered legislation through the state House of Representatives that would establish a career and wage ladder for licensed child care centers. The measure, HB 1636, acknowledges that state government has a vested interest in making sure preschoolers have a quality learning experience, which is partially achieved by improving the salaries, working conditions and educational opportunities for child care teachers. At press time, the measure was under consideration in the state Senate.
“We are pleased that this innovative program has taken a step forward in our Legislature to help improve the quality of early learning and teacher wages and working conditions,” says Sandra Schroeder, president of AFT Washington and an AFT vice president. “AFT Washington is pleased to be involved in this proven program.”
The career and wage ladder would increase the pay of child care workers based on their experience, level of responsibility and education. The legislation is a spinoff of the successful early childhood education and career and wage ladder pilot program that the state funded from July 2000 through June 2003.
An independent audit of the pilot program conducted by Washington State University “unequivocally proved that it improved quality,” says Dorothy Gibson of the alliance’s project staff, who’s been leading the member mobilization. Specifically, the report confirmed that the career and wage ladder reduced teacher turnover, encouraged teachers to pursue education and training, and improved teacher morale.
“They do society’s most important work, and yet they’re so poorly paid,” agrees state Rep. Eric Pettigrew, chief sponsor of the bill, in a statement announcing its passage. Pettigrew says that “workers in licensed day care centers make about $8 an hour, [which is] way below a livable wage.” Moreover, he notes that “more than 40 percent of these men and women don’t get health insurance through their employer. A third don’t get paid sick leave. And more than 25 percent of child care workers don’t even get a paid vacation.”
CTU helps teachers earn NBPTS certification
The Nurturing Teacher Leadership (NTL) program of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) recently achieved another record mark of success in leading its participants to complete the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification process.
Now in its seventh year, the NTL program this year reached an 86 percent success rate, as 24 of its 28 candidates for national board certification succeeded. In addition, eight of the 11 NTL-mentored candidates who were retaking the evaluation also were successful. More than 110 Chicago teachers have participated in the NTL program, of whom 98 have achieved board certification.
Successful NTL participants and other Chicago teachers who have attained national board certification were honored for their achievement by the Chicago Public Education Fund. CTU president and AFT vice president Marilyn Stewart brought greetings to an all-day seminar sponsored by the fund, and recording secretary Mary McGuire joined Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley in offering congratulations to the newly certified teachers during an evening ceremony.
Recognizing our 'unsung heroes'
Throughout the AFT’s history, individual union members have often taken courageous stands—opposing racially segregated union locals, supporting the right of pregnant teachers to remain employed, and advocating for the education of handicapped children and English language learners.
The AFT’s new Unsung Heroes initiative is designed to identify those members who challenged the status quo to fight for their rights and those of other Americans. The initiative is an opportunity to say “thank you” to people who, quietly and without recognition, helped the union and this nation win victories that have advanced the dignity of all Americans.
“It was a climate of democracy and respect in the local union that offered our members the confidence and the opportunity to speak out for change,” says Foster Stringer, director of the AFT human rights and community relations department.
Local and state affiliates are encouraged to identify unsung heroes within their ranks. Nominations should be sent to AFT Human Rights and Community Relations Department, 555 New Jersey Ave. N.W., Washington, DC 20001 or e-mailed to UnsungHeroesareMembers@aft.org. Be sure to include the person’s name, the event participated in, contact information and why the local or state fed sees this action as making a difference.
