CUPE is calling on the Nova Scotia Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, EECD, to take urgent action to ensure Early Childhood Educators, ECEs, receive the back pay they have been owed for months.
Despite having earned these wages, ECEs across the province are still waiting because the Department has not authorized the funding to flow to child care centres. Without this authorization, centres cannot issue the payments.
“Everyone deserves to be paid on time, and our ECEs are no exception,” said Alan Linkletter, president of CUPE Nova Scotia. “The Minister has the ability and the responsibility to unlock this funding immediately. Delaying back pay only deepens the staffing challenges that already affect the entire child care sector.”
Child care centres across Nova Scotia continue to struggle to recruit and retain staff due to chronically low wages and longstanding undervaluation of the profession. Many centres remain unable to create enough spaces to meet demand—an issue worsened when workers are not compensated fairly or promptly.
“ECEs have upheld their end of the bargain. They’ve done the work, and they’re still waiting to be paid,” said Tabitha Warren, president of CUPE 4745 and an ECE. “This delay sends a message that the province doesn’t value the people who make child care possible. It’s unacceptable, and it needs to be fixed now.”
CUPE is urging the Minister of EECD to authorize the release of all outstanding funds immediately so child care centres can distribute the back pay owed to workers.
“We’re committed to ensuring every ECE across the province receives the compensation they deserve, without further delay,” added Linkletter.