Worthy Wage Day Initiative 2015 PROFESSIONAL PAY FOR

Nova Scotia Child Care
Association
Worthy Wage Day Initiative
May 1, 2015
Professional Pay for Professional Work:
It’s not Early Childhood Education without the Early Childhood Educator
Nova Scotia Child Care Association
102 Chain Lake Drive, Suite 303
Halifax, NS B3S 1A7
www.nschildcareassociation.org
Nova Scotia Child
Care Association
Worthy Wage Day Initiative 2015
PROFESSIONAL PAY FOR PROFESSIONAL WORK
ECE Matters Video Campaign
“It’s not Early Childhood Education without the Early Childhood Educator”
The Nova Scotia Child Care Association (NSCCA) would like to invite your centre to participate in the 5th
Annual Worthy Wage Campaign. Our goals are to raise public awareness about professional pay for
professional work. The campaign will highlight the important work Early Childhood Educators do each day,
and empower Nova Scotia’s Early Childhood Educators to become advocates for themselves and their
profession. It’s not Early Childhood Education without the Early Childhood Educator.
This year we are asking early childhood educators
across Nova Scotia to submit videos stating why Early
Childhood Educators Matter. With your clips we will
develop a video that will be posted online and promoted
to media, centres, and to the public.
For this campaign to be successful we are hoping that all
early childhood educators participate in this initiative.
From March 16-April 13 we ask that you email your
video to us so we can create a provincial video
showcasing ECEs from across Nova Scotia. Together
we send a stronger message!
Inside this Worthy Wage 2015 Package you will find:
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PAST WORTHY WAGE DAY
INITIATIVES
The previous NSCCA Worthy Wage campaigns were
highly successful in highlighting the issue of insufficient
funding for child care in our province.
st
Our 1 Annual Worthy Wage Day, held on May 2,
2011 was our Hands Up for Worthy Wages celebration.
Stickers and buttons were distributed and staff and
families were asked to wear these to show their support.
nd
NSCCA Suggested Minimum Salary Guidelines
Phase 5 (2014-2016).
Specifications for video submissions
Recommended statements promoting
professional pay for professional work.
Waiver reserving the right to use your video
We hope that you will consider participating in this year’s
worthy wage campaign. If you have any questions or
concerns please feel free to contact us at
info@nschildcareassociation.org
Sincerely,
Advocacy Committee
Nova Scotia Child Care Association
Our 2 Annual Worthy Wage Day held on May 1, 2012
was a virtual strike. Parents were asked to comment on
how their family would be affected if the staff at their
centre were to go on strike. We also created two videos
on the importance of child care which can be viewed by
clinking on the link on our YouTube page at
https://www.youtube.com/user/NSCCA2012
rd
Our 3 Annual Worthy Wage Day held May 1, 2013
asked centres to participate by collecting as many
signatures as possible for our Worthy Wage Petition. We
collected over 2000 signatures and presented those
signatures to Minister of Education and Early Childhood
Development, Karen Casey when we met with her in the
fall of 2014, to ensure she was aware of the progress
made with the previous NDP government.
th
Our 4 Annual Worthy Wage Day held May 1, 2014
asked individuals to participate in a letter writing
campaign sent to all MLAs in Nova Scotia.
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Nova Scotia Child
Care Association
Photograph, Video and Voice Recording Consent, Waiver, Indemnity and Release Form
Photographs, Videos and Recordings
I hereby grant Nova Scotia Child Care Association and its representatives the use photos and videos, and voice
recordings submitted by me in the video campaign for Worthy Wage Day 2015- ECE Matters Professional Pay for
Professional Worth.
I further grant Nova Scotia Child Care Association and its representatives the right to reproduce, use, exhibit, display,
broadcast and distribute and create derivative works of these images and recordings in the video campaign for Worthy
Wage Day 2015- ECE Matters Professional Pay for Professional Worth. I acknowledge that Nova Scotia Child Care
Association reserves the right to edit and choose videos for the YouTube video campaign for Worthy Wage Day 2015ECE Matters Professional Pay for Professional Worth due to quality and/or content submitted by me.
Waiver, Indemnity and Release
I hereby waive any right to inspect or approve the use photos and videos, and voice recordings submitted by me in the
video campaign for Worthy Wage Day 2015- ECE Matters Professional Pay for Professional Worth.
I hereby release, defend, indemnify and hold harmless Nova Scotia Child Care Association, its Board of Directors, officers
employees or agents from and against any claims, damages or liability arising from or related to use photos and videos,
and voice recordings, including but not limited to claims of defamation, invasion of privacy, or rights of publicity or
copyright infringement, or editing that may occur in the production of the finished product, its publication or
distribution.
Privacy Policy
In accordance with NSCCA Privacy Policy, the NSCCA is committed to protecting the privacy of its stakeholders. We value
the trust of those we deal with and we strive to be transparent and accountable in how we deal with personal
information. During various projects and activities we gather and use personal information, which we collect, use and
disclose only for the services we provide.
Nova Scotia Child Care Association respects your privacy. We do not rent, sell or trade our mailing/email lists. The
information you provide will be used to inform you about NSCCA’s activities, services and fundraising. If at any time you
wish to be removed from out mailing, email list and contact list please contact us via email at
info@nschildcareassociation.org
I have read this document and I fully understand the contents, meaning and impact of this consent, waiver, indemnity
and release.
First and Last Name (printed)________________________________________________________
Email__________________________________ Phone__________________________________
Signature_______________________________ Date___________________________________
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CALL FOR VIDEO SUBMISSIONS
Worthy Wage Day Initiative 2015
PROFESSIONAL PAY FOR PROFESSIONAL WORK
ECE Matters Video Campaign
“It’s not Early Childhood Education without the Early Childhood Educator”
DESCRIPTION
The 5th Annual Worthy Wage Day Campaign “ECE MATTERS Professional Pay for Professional
Worth” video campaign will feature Early Childhood Educators from across Nova Scotia who
are interested in raising the professional profile of Early Childhood Educators by highlighting
the important work Early Childhood Educators do each day. We know Early Childhood
Educators deserve salaries that reflect their value- professional pay for professional worth.
Video Requirements:
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Entries must comply with the digital submission guidelines by April 13, 2015.
Videos must include why Early Childhood Educators are valuable and the important work they do each
day.
Videos must include an educator(s) holding up a placard with their statement(s) indicating an ECE’s
worth (sample statements below, sample video available on our website at
www.nschildcareassociation.org
Statements can be handwritten legibly, or computer printed
Videos must not include children
Videos must be MPG, MPEG, MOV, AVI, max 512MB
Videos must be 5-15 seconds in length
Please ensure no company or individual identifying marks are present
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Entries that do not meet these requirements will be disqualified.
PREPARING YOUR VIDEO
When you are putting together your video submission:
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Your first card will have one of the below statements on it:
I AM AN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR AND I MATTER BECAUSE…
-ORI AM AN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR AND I DESERVE PROFESSIONAL
PAY BECAUSE…
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Your second statement card will state why Early Childhood Educators matter and why they
deserve professional pay. You may choose from the statements we have provided, but to
ensure we provide the best message to our target audience (public, parents, politicians etc)
we will be choosing videos that
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Each placard must be held up long enough for the viewer to completely read it.
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SAMPLE STATEMENTS
I am an Early Childhood Educator and I matter because OR
I am an Early Childhood Educator and I deserve professional pay because…
 I teach tomorrows citizens
 I support families and children
 I build confidence and self-esteem in young children
 I support diversity
 I teach sharing, caring, compassion and empathy
 I encourage discovery and curiosity
 I am a professional
 I respect and understand the uniqueness of each family and child
 Each child’s accomplishments are my accomplishments
 I am trained in child development
 I build children’s brains
 Research has proven that the early years are critical for life long healthy development
 I assist in forming the architecture of early brain development
 Play is learning
 Provide a stimulating learning environment based on best practice
 I deliver positive influences, teach and help develop skills that children will use their whole
lives
 I am trained in program delivery for young children
 The foundation of learning begins in the early years
 I follow a Code of Ethics and Standard of Practice Daily
 I provide purpose in children’s play
 Children’s play is their work
 I have post-secondary education in child development and programing for young children
 The first five years have so much to do with how the next 80 turn out
 I provide a trusting, caring, nurturing environment
 I encourage healthy relationship building
 I help to give children the best possible start in life.
 I encourage children to dream and to use their imaginations.
 I guide children as they explore their world
 I encourage children to explore and learn from their environment
 I teach children how to resolve conflicts in a positive way.
 I provide a safe and nurturing environment
 I make sure every child in my care develops a positive sense of self.
 I encourage and teach literacy
 I plant the seed for a lifelong love of learning
 I make sure each child in my care is socially and emotionally ready for the challenges of
grade primary.
 I plan developmentally appropriate activities based on the children’s interests
 I use songs, stories and finger-plays to encourage language development
 I am a child’s partner in learning
 I listen
 I nurture
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Every child deserves and has a right to the best start of quality and care in life.
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Professional Pay
For Professional Work
Worthy Wage
Why A Minimum Salary Guideline? NSCCA has a vision of a stable, professional, well paid and well trained workforce
that is supported in offering high quality early learning and child care to children and families. We believe that the damaging impact of
low wages must be made clearly visible so that planned growth in the licensed system does not happen on the backs of underpaid early
childhood practitioners and educators. This minimum salary guideline will help child care programs determine a fair and equitable salary
based on occupational standards and a classification system that recognizes education, experience and career progression. It is designed
as a tool for advocacy that can help highlight the full cost of quality and the public investment needed to ensure a quality based early
learning and child care system.
RECRUITMENT
&
RETENTION
LOWEST PAID
IN CANADA
Early Childhood
Education Is an
Economic Benefit
What Can You
Do?
WE KNOW:
 There is a link between wages, staff turnover and quality early learning and child
care. You Bet We Still Care! Clearly demonstrated in 20131.
 Worthy wages offer financial rewards attached to increasing qualifications, role
progression and professional development that supports quality care and early
education for children.
 Consistency of care givers is a primary indicator of Quality Child Care
WE KNOW:
 Nova Scotia’s Early Childhood Educators are the lowest paid in Canada.
The You Bet We Still Care! Clearly demonstrated in 2013
 ECEs with post-secondary credentials in early childhood education are key to
quality early ECEC experiences for young children. (CCHRSC, Training Report, 2007)
 Early Childhood Educators who are paid a worthy wage have a higher level of
workplace satisfaction and are more productive as employees
 Low wages devalue the work Early Childhood Educators do.
WE KNOW:
 Investing in Early Childhood Education is an economic investment. For every
$1 invested there is an immediate return of 1.78 and a long term return of up to
$17, particularly in at risk children (TD Economic Report, 2012)
 Child Care enables a strong workforce, allowing dual family incomes, increasing
tax revenue. Over 75% of mothers in Nova Scotia with children under the age
of six are working (Early Years Study 3 2011)
The NSCCA urges individuals and centres to advocate for, and work toward adopting, this
minimum salary guideline. Centres can adapt it to reflect job titles and responsibilities that exist
in their programs and advertise their use of the scale to help recruit qualified staff. We
encourage all centres to move their budgets toward the full cost of quality which includes
ensuring that 80% of centre revenues are allocated for salaries and benefits.
The NSCCA recognizes the importance of professional development in quality early
learning and child care. We recommend centres develop policies that support ongoing
professional development for all early childhood educators and practitioners.
NSCCA urges you to become an advocate for the field along with us! NSCCA offers
professional support and resources to its members through standards of practice, a code of
ethics, and affiliations with other early learning and child care organizations and associations.
The Early Years Study, 2011 http://earlyyearsstudy.ca/en/
You Bet We Still Care, 2013 http://www.ccsc-cssge.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/Projects-Pubs-Docs/EN%20Pub%20Chart/YouBetSurveyReport_Final.pdf
TD Economics Report on Early Childhood Educationhttp://www.td.com/document/PDF/economics/special/di1112_EarlyChildhoodEducation.pdf
Child Care Human Resource Sector Council, 2007http://www.ccsc-cssge.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/Projects-Pubs-Docs/Training_StrategyFull_Eng.pdf
NSCCA Suggested Minimum Salary Guidelines
For Trained ECE Professionals
(2014-2016)
For regulated Early Learning and Care Programs
NS DE&ECD
Classification
ECE III
Director
Entry
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
$47,283
(22.73)
$52,020
(25.01)
$57,200
(27.50)
$62,920
(30.25)
$69,222
(33.28)
$39,811
(19.14)
$43,388
(20.86)
$47,278
(22.73)
$51,521
(24.77)
$56,118
(26.98)
$34,195
(16.44)
$37,252
(17.91)
$40,622
(19.53)
$44,283
(21.29)
$47,923
(23.04)
$24,876
(11.96)
$27,132
(13.04)
$29,556
(14.21)
$32,198
(15.48)
$35,131
(16.89)
$21,632
(10.40)
$23,587
(11.34)
$26,062
(12.35)
$28,017
(13.47)
$30,513
(14.67)
ECE II
Supervisor
ECE II
Resource
ECE I
Child Care
Worker II
(in ECE training)
Child Care
Worker I
(Dept. of Education
and Early Childhood
Development)
Comparable to
Level 2/3
Classification
Comparable to
Level 1 and
Entry
Classification
Notes: 40 hour week. Each level represents 3 years of experience. In this phase, increments are 9% for practitioners,
10% for directors. Early Childhood Educators or Administrators who are certified are paid $1500 above scale.
ECE III (director) – An ECE who manages the centre and its day to day operations. This person is accountable for program
quality and has post diploma training and experience in management and administration. Executive Directors of large or
multi-site centres may be paid above scale.
ECE II (supervisor) – An ECE whose job description includes a portion of the program’s administration. The ECE II
provides administrative or management support to help ensure quality centre-wide operations and has post diploma training
and experience in management and administration.
ECE II (resource) – An ECE whose job description includes specialized responsibilities and duties with regard to program
development and/or the inclusion of children with special needs. An ECE II will have a combination of post diploma
experience and training in the area of specialization.
ECE I – Holds a diploma or degree in Early Childhood Education. Primary responsibility is the early learning and care of a
group of children. The ECE has no program-wide administration duties.
Child Care Worker II (in ECE training) – A child care worker who has no formal ECE credential but who is actively
pursuing an early childhood diploma or degree. This person works within a formal framework of supervision and support and
will have a contractual agreement with the employer with regard to their training plan. This person is untrained or equivalent
for purposes of the Daycare Act and may or may not be responsible for a group of children.
Child Care Worker I – A child care worker who has no formal ECE credential. This person is untrained or equivalent for
purposes of the Daycare Act and may or may not be responsible for a group children.
Certification is recommended for all eligible early childhood educators