Early Childhood Educators in Nova Scotia feeling “unappreciated and underpaid”: results of new workforce survey reveals

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-Nova Scotia (CCPA-NS) released a new report today that provides a snapshot of what it is like for Early Childhood Educators (ECE) to work in the Early Learning and Child Care sector in Nova Scotia. Understanding which factors influence their recruitment and retention is critical because we know high turnover affects the quality of the care provided. Early Childhood Educator and CUPE member, Margot Nickerson had this to say, “This report provides evidence of what we have been saying; so many of my fellow ECEs are struggling with wages that do not reflect their education and specialized skills to work with young children. Frankly, these wages leave them struggling to pay for necessities for their own families. Also, the added pressures with the pre-primary roll-out have resulted in a shortage of ECEs. They are burning out.” Download a copy of the Report: Unappreciated and Underpaid”: Early … Read more…

Louise Riley

Rebuild long-term care in Nova Scotia with qualified staff and a minimum 4.1 hours of care

CUPE Nova Scotia is calling on the McNeil government to immediately increase funding to all publicly-funded long-term care facilities, so they reach a minimum staff funding of 4.1 hours of care per resident each day. “Many of our members are telling us that, on average, they have less than ten minutes to get each resident ready for the day,” says Louise Riley, chair of the CUPE NS Long Term Care Coordinating Committee. “Let that sink in. Ten minutes or less. How many able-bodied adults do you know that can get themselves ready for the day in that amount of time?” CUPE is specifically calling for an immediate staffing increase, supported by new funding to the health authority that includes: Recruitment of more continuing care assistants, and other members of the care team Reinstatement of the financial support for CCA program students at a Nova Scotia public institution (cancelled in 2013) … Read more…

Special event January 30 – Child care and early learning panel discussion

Please join early childhood educators, advocates and experts for a panel discussion the evening of January 30, 2019, hosted by CUPE Nova Scotia. Child Care for All: Building a High Quality, Sustainable Early Learning and Child Care System The discussion will cover the challenges early childhood educators are facing in the child care sector. The highlight of the evening will be a presentation of a new report based on the findings of an online survey of ECEs and employers, Unappreciated and underpaid: Early Childhood Educators in Nova Scotia by the Canadian Centre Policy Alternatives – Nova Scotia (CCPA-NS). DATE: 6:30 to 8 p.m., January 30, 2019 LOCATION: CUPE Atlantic Regional Office, 271 Brownlow Avenue, Dartmouth (parking around back of building) WATCH ONLINE: Live on Facebook at facebook.com/cupenovascotia. Some of the topics to be discussed will include: Everyday challenges ECEs face in providing high-quality child care Factors that contribute to employers’ … Read more…