WECAN - Workers in Early Childhood Education Action Network

01/19/2023

Register today at bit.ly/WECANUnite to join us on February 4th at 10am (in person or by Zoom) and meet Kayanna Jackson, one of the inspiring panelists building power for workers in the early childhood industry.

Kayanna is a Family Child Care provider in Burlington County, a member of the Child Care Workers Union of CWA Local 1037, and the Burlington County Representative of the New Jersey Family Child Care Provider Association.

“Family Child Care Providers like myself are the most underpaid and least respected providers in the Early Education and Child Care workforce. Most family-based providers are open 10-12 hours per day. Many of us have no health insurance and no benefits. We engage in ongoing professional development trainings, and we have value, skill, devotion, and a love for the service we provide that cannot be taught. I am one of these providers facing this challenge. But I will not give up the career I love so much because of these encounters. Instead, I am organizing to improve working conditions and job quality in our industry, while also expanding access to affordable quality care for the families in our communities.”

01/05/2023

WECAN Unite on February 4th! Calling All Childcare Workers and Workers in Early Education!!!

The childcare industry is in crisis and it should an alarm for childcare center workers and family childcare providers across New Jersey.

Workers in Early Childhood Action Network (WECAN) is a movement of workers who share a vision of a childcare industry that provides easy access to affordable, quality childcare for working families while transforming low-wage jobs into solid, stable careers with good pay and strong benefits.

We believe that the current crisis in childcare is our opportunity to re-build our industry in our vision.

On February 4th, childcare worker leaders who have led successful campaigns will share their experiences at the WECAN Unite gathering to inspire other childcare workers to seize the current opportunity to rebuild childcare in New Jersey.

Register TODAY for the WECAN Unite gathering of childcare workers in New Jersey on February 4th at 10:00am by visiting bit.ly/WECANUnite! You can join the conversation virtually on Zoom or you can attend in person at the Rutgers University Labor Education Center in New Brunswick, NJ.

For more information, contact us at [email protected].

01/05/2023

An important read about Wall Street’s efforts to extract profits by blocking expanded government childcare benefits. Efforts like this undermine working families and put childcare further out of reach.

"In a Nov. 10 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for its initial public offering, KinderCare warned that expanded government child care benefits could lessen demand for its services. “Our continued profitability depends on our ability to offset our increased costs through tuition increases,” the company stated."

Some high-end chains are surprisingly profitable, and they are trying to shape child care policy in Washington.

01/05/2023

Childcare is essential...

01/05/2023

Parents of students at The Leaguers Inc. showed up for CWA 1037 Leaguers Workers as they attempted to deliver an open letter signed by 100+ parents asking management to negotiate a fair contract with workers in early childhood.
Unfortunately, management dismissed both parents and workers by refusing to meet or accept the letter.
In part, the letter read:
“The reason many of us continue to bring our children back to The Leaguers is because of the relationships we have built with workers.”
“Our children deserve a positive and well-resourced learning environment; and a workforce that is happy, focused, and excited to spend their day with our children. Our hope is that management shares this same vision for creating an environment where our children can thrive and grow.”
Parents and workers joined in a rally outside The Leaguers to demand respect. The community stands with Leaguers workers!

01/05/2023

This is what Community-Labor power looks like......

01/07/2021

The first county in the US to vote for Universal Pre-K!

"...the county will now begin the process of creating a tuition-free, year-round, full-day universal preschool program. By the time the system is fully rolled out, schools will be open to all 3- and 4-year-olds in the county, which comprises Portland and surrounding areas. The program will be funded through a progressive income tax on high earners, and will pay preschool teachers and assistants a living wage, significantly above the local minimum."

Funded by a progressive income tax on high earners, Multnomah County preschools will be open to all 3- and 4-year-olds.