While the union has fought to raise wages for its child care workers, compensation still does not reflect their true worth. Higher quality centers pay higher wages and provide better benefits for teachers. Studies have shown that children must have consistency in their daily life. In programs where there is high teacher turnover, children suffer. Many centers lose more than half of their staff each year.
Centers paying the lowest wages lose the greatest number of teachers.
Teachers can t afford to stay. There s got to be a better way. Unionization fosters a stable, profes-sional workforce. Glynnise Collins has worked in union and non-union day care facilities. By joining the union, I have increased health and retirement benefits as well as additional vacation, sick leave and the use of a sick leave bank.