For over 50 years, District Council 1707 has led the way in advocating for quality child care and early education in New York City. After years of organizing, advocacy and coalition building, members of Local 205 won a historic agreement with the City of New York and the New York City Day Care Council which ensures wage parity for certified teachers with the same base pay as teachers in NYC public schools.
We knew to make such historic gains, we would need to organize our collective voices like never before. That is why DC 1707 has unified and partnered with the 125,000 members of the New York City’s largest municipal union, their sister AFSCME affiliate District Council 37. Together, we have reached this historic moment and now have the opportunity to add thousands of more voices to our mission of providing New York City’s children with the highest-level of early education services while ensuring we are respected and truly valued for the vital work we do.
Beginning October 1, 2019, unionized certified teachers with an MA will begin to receive contractual pay increases that will culminate in a $20,794 dollar per year increase for a new salary base of $68,652 in 2021. Certified teachers with a BA will receive $17,435 over the next two years for a new base rate of $63,070. The contractual raises are some of the largest ever won in the history of early childhood education.
The agreement also makes substantial gains for all unionized CBO employees, including a minimum 3.6% wage increase for non-certified teachers with an $1,800 ratification bonus. Further, the agreement significantly lowers health care costs, which in some cases reduces co-pays by as much as 80%. The defined pension benefit is strengthened, and the City has recommitted to the Union’s Career Ladder Fund, which includes free tuition for Early Education Masters and Bachelor’s degrees at CUNY Colleges or subsidized reimbursements at any college or university of the member’s choosing.
If you work at a city-funded Day Care/Early Childhood Education Provider and wish to join our movement to gain access to our agreement, fill out the short contact form and an AFSCME representative will be in touch.
FAQ
Q. How Can My Co-Workers and I Join this Historic Agreement and Receive the Benefits We Deserve?
A. There are couple different ways to join AFSCME Day Care Employees Local 205. First, fill out our contact form to be contacted by a member of our union.
Q. I’m a Director and/or Owner of city-funded City Child Care organization and would like my center and employees to benefit from this historic agreement. How can I make this happen?
A. It’s easy. First, fill out the short contact form and an AFSCME representative will reach out to set up a time to give a presentation to your employees about the benefits of coming together to join AFSCME Local 205 and participate in this historic agreement. When a majority of your employees sign-up, you sign a document recognizing them as union members and then sign the AFSCME Local 205 agreement to authorize the Day Care Council of New York as the multi-employer representative for the contract.
Q. I’m a Child Care Teacher or other Center professional and my Employer told us they won’t stand in our way to join the union and benefit from this agreement. What do we do next?
A. That’s great news that you work for such a wonderful Center who cares deeply about your career and wants to make sure you receive the wages and benefits you deserve. Fill out the short contact form and an AFSCME representative will contact you to start the process of signing-up you and your co-workers. Once a majority has signed, we ask your employer to recognize you as AFSCME Local 205 members and for them to sign the AFSCME Local 205 agreement to authorize the Day Care Council of New York as the multi-employer representative for the contract.
Q. My employer doesn’t want us to have a union? Can we still join?
A. YES! No one can deny your rights to form a union. Period. If you, and majority of your co-workers want to join AFSCME Local 205, no one can stop you. For over 40 years, AFSCME Local 205 has represented Child Care and Early Education professionals at all types of employers. It was thousands of unionized Child Care professionals standing together who demanded recognition and fair pay that won this historic agreement. When we stand together, we win. Fill out the short contact form and an AFSCME representative will be in touch shortly about putting you and co-workers on the path to victory.