NY Childcare Providers Join with Teachers Union

Wow, today a blog I frequent reported that 28,000 childcare providers in New York have joined with the United Federation of Teachers, a union, to help secure more of an economic and political voice for themselves through collective bargaining. A partnership between ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) and UFT shows one of the first instances of grass roots community organizations joining with a union I have seen. What does this say about how childcare providers are feeling in the Big Apple? the US? New York is the eighth state to let home-based providers unionize. Hmmm.

When you realize the average annual wage for family and group family providers in New York City is $19,933. The federal poverty line for a family of four in 2004 was $18,850, you see why they might be organizing. The providers have no health benefits, pension plan or paid vacations. They don’t get a sick day, what if their own children get sick?

After all, childcare providers, like teachers, help raise our children and care for them in our stead. They deserve a living wage and an ability to be part of a middle class in America. As we work away at our day jobs, they’re providing meals, making snacks, helping children with reading, learning colors and numbers, homework, direct safe play and changing diapers?
Thanks for being part of Laborfair. By paying a fair wage for this most important of services, we can be the change.