Square One CEO Issues Statement on Union Negotiations
SPRINGFIELD — As Square One leaders continue to negotiate with the union representing the nonprofit agency’s teachers, drivers, and food service workers, President and CEO Dawn DiStefano has issued a statement:
“As we continue to navigate the challenges presented by our current labor strike, I want to take a moment to update our community on this important matter. First and foremost, Square One remains steadfast in our mission to ensure that all children and their families are positioned for long-term success. This has been our promise since 1883 and will continue be the commitment that drives us going forward,” DiStefano began.
“I am deeply grateful to our team of educators, administrators, and support staff who have stepped up to ensure that we continue to provide care for our children, enabling their parents and caregivers to go to work, during this challenging time. We are encouraged by the support and patience demonstrated by the hundreds of families who continue to entrust us with the care of their beautiful children.
“We have the utmost respect for the work that our teachers, drivers, and food service providers do each and every day. They are beloved by our children and families and cherished by myself, my fellow leaders, board of directors, staff, and volunteers.
“The needs of our children continue to evolve in ways that require a highly trained team of childcare experts. We have a responsibility on our part to ensure that our teachers have the education and resources needed to respond to every child’s social, emotional, and developmental needs, ensuring they are building a foundation for long-term success. This requires more than a high school diploma.
“With this in mind, our teachers have been offered a wage increase that compensates them above the level of their public school counterparts with similar levels of education: 9% increases in year one, followed by 3% in year two and 3% in year three. It is also important to note that the last contract, which expired on July 1, 2025, included wage increases of 29%. During that time, employee health insurance premiums increased by nearly 30%. Through careful budgeting and tireless fundraising, none of that cost was passed onto our employees.
“Under the terms of Square One’s current contract offer, our highest-paid union staff members who hold a high school diploma would earn $31.18/hour, following the immediate 9% increase. On July 1, 2026, that salary grows to $32.12/hour. By comparison, their public school counterparts with the same level of education are earning $26.34/hour. Likewise, our entry-level positions for high school students and recent high school graduates will grow to $20.60/hour immediately and again to $21.22/hour on July 1, 2026, while their public school counterparts are earning $19.67/hour.
“Our current offer also provides our staff with the opportunity to obtain a college degree and thus move into a higher pay scale — at no cost to them. We have offered to flex their schedules so that they can attend classes without compromising their income. In fact, we have built in cash incentives for those who are pursuing higher education. We feel this is critical for the long-term success of the children in our care, as well the success of our individual employees.
“As a nonprofit organization that relies on government contracts and philanthropic support, we have a responsibility to be good stewards of these funds to best serve our current clients and protect Square One’s future in order to ensure that our community will continue to benefit from our work for years to come.
“We are eager to see our children reunite with their beloved teachers,” DiStefano concluded. “We recognize the stress that this situation has brought to our Square One families and remain hopeful that a peaceful resolution that fairly compensates our staff while protecting the financial stability of the agency will be soon be reached.”