The following was testimony recently given to the House Human Services committee on H.97, the bill that would allow early education and care providers in both centers and private homes to organize as a non-traditional union that would bargain with the sate directly on policy relating to pre-K and their profession.

The testimony was delivered by Dawn Gieseke, director of Rainbow Playschool in Woodstock. (Again, full disclosure: I’m doing consulting work in support of this bill, which would be a huge step forward for labor and working folks in Vermont, just as they are under attack in other parts of the country):

I feel the need to define early childhood educators. We have often been referred to as babysitters (I am not sure if that reflects a very high opinion of babysitters or a very low opinion of early educators!) We are educated and experienced people working for the families in the communities of Vermont. We have a high work ethic and value what we do. In my center, every person holds a degree and meets or surpasses regulation for continuing education. We know quality, the people we work with, and the families we work for. We can provide the information that is essential to effective and productive decision-making. We need to have a voice at the table

About seven months ago, I received a visit from an AFT representative who told me that organizers would be coming around to learn about what Early Childhood Educators wanted to achieve in Vermont. At first, I was very skeptical. They used that word “Union” and it made me nervous.  I eventually met a few organizers. My skepticism quickly vanished as each one visited. I listened to them – listening didn’t mean I had to commit to anything, nor did it cost me anything. The organizers were always respectful of my time and answered all my questions. I was impressed by the fact that they all had the same answers and they were all on the same page. I didn’t feel that anything was being kept from me (they were not trying to get anything past me.) I attended some meetings with other providers. I realized that this growing group was more than just a professional organization getting together to discuss issues of the trade. The energy, commitment, and expertise of this group really had the power to effect change in our state – to improve the quality of child care in Vermont. If H.97 passes, then we will be able to come together and really effect change – not just make suggestions, but really have the power to make decisions that will benefit the children by improving the delivery of child care and education services.

Challenges of the Profession

There are many challenges that we face in our profession. Having a voice at the table can help us work to overcome those challenges.

· 40% turnover rate

o This is not just an economic issue for the individual providers who come into the high-pressure profession; it is an issue of quality education for the children. Consistency in care givers is extremely important. From my experience and contacts with child care workers, I know that part of the reason for the high turnover rate is the lack of respect for this profession. We have a lot of respect for each other (we know how educated, talented, and committed we are) – we need the respect from the rest of the community. A seat at the table will show us that the state knows what we already know – we have something of significant value to offer to the state in its role in policy-making decisions. We know the day-to-day challenges and successes.

· In 83% of Vermont families, both parents work.

o Child care is not a privilege, it is a necessity. The need for high quality child care has changed dramatically over the last several decades – the need has never been stronger than now. H.97 is very timely in that we, as early educators, can really make a difference by lending our expertise and knowledge to the policy process.

· We are connected to parents in our communities in a way that cannot be replicated

o One of the most important things that we bring to the table is our connection to the parents. We know what they are looking for in their children, and what the needs are of working families. We are there with the children everyday – that makes us the experts in this area. When given the chance, we will continue to make the children and families that we serve our top priority. It’s what we do already, but H.97 allows us to advocate for our families in a more effective way.

Examples of Changing Outcomes

If H.97 passes, child care workers will be able to effect change in many different areas of child care services. Here are some examples:

· Regulations – We will be able to contribute to the regulations under which we operate. Making them direct and clear to providers and parents.

o An example of where we could have been very effective involves a regulation related to napping. This is an area where there are 2 regulations that are in direct conflict with each other and they actually cancel each other out. This is something that could have been avoided if, in the development of the regulation, child care workers who are actually performing the day-to-day work could have been a knowledgeable and informative voice at the table.

· Professional development

o In 2009, charitable foundations in Vermont commissioned “A Study on Early Care and Education in Vermont.” The study found that “state-sponsored professional development efforts geared toward licensure and apprenticeships, while promising, also reach relatively small numbers of early childhood educators.” This is another area in which we can contribute to the decisions made regarding the professional development needs of our profession.

Speaking as a current Center Director and former Home Care Provider, it just makes sense to give us a seat at the table. It will only benefit the state’s role in regulating and supporting child care quality and services.