Over the years I've seen rules and changes in the state rules regarding the private business of childcare in the home. Numbers, limits, inspections, more limits are the state's way of trying to control childcare, and for the most part, it's a good thing. I remember at one time having 67 children on my family list and seeing 30 children a day at home. Not many people can do this successfully, but I had the right house and help and energy to do it well, run a little school and make sure everyone got the right nutrition and had a good time.
At that time, there was no one to bind what was becoming a community of childcare providers. We all knew each other and all worked together on problems. I wonder if a union would have helped.
Day-care Workers Ponder Unionizing
Thursday, September 01, 2005
BY BETH FITZGERALD
Star-Ledger Staff Newark, New Jersey
The state pays Ingrid Baker about $500 a week to care for five infants and toddlers in her East Orange home, but the 55-year-old grandmother says she can't afford to buy health insurance and could really use a raise.
A union local being started by the Communications Workers of America would bargain for wages and benefits on behalf of Baker and thousands of other day-care providers who care for some 75,000 low-income New Jersey children while their parents are working or trying to get off welfare.
Baker was among more than 50 home day-care providers who attended a meeting this week in Newark to learn more about the CWA Local 1028, and she likes what she's heard so far. The grass- roots union organizing effort is a collaboration between CWA and ACORN, a community-based organization that advocates for low-income people across a wide range of issues, including health care and affordable housing.
"I most definitely need health insurance, which I had to drop four years ago when the premiums went up from $400 to almost $700 a month," Baker said. "When I go to the doctor, I panic. What if they find something seriously wrong with me? Will I have to sell my house?"
New Jersey pays home day-care providers $122 a week to care for infants and $95 a week for preschool children, according to Ed Rogan, spokesman for the state Department of Human Services.
"As far as the unionization issue goes, obviously we are aware that it is going on and it is certainly an employee's right to seek to be unionized, but we cannot comment on it," Rogan said.
While the CWA estimates there are about 9,000 potential members of its new local, Rogan said the state is aware of only 4,500 registered family day-care providers.
Rogan said the state pays for day care for 75,000 children in 50,000 families, which includes low- income working families and parents who are still receiving public assistance and need day care in order to make the transition from welfare to work.
"We provide day care for parents who are engaged in work activities, which includes training," Rogan said.
Although home day-care providers are outside contractors, not state employees, they can unionize and engage in collective bargaining with the state, according to Tim Dubnau of the CWA. While its roots are in the telecommunications industry, the CWA represents thousands of state and county government workers in New Jersey.
The model for the day-care union, Dubnau said, is the CWA's successful home day-care unionization drive earlier this year in Illinois. After eight years of lobbying, the governor of Illinois authorized the union via an executive order in February, and in April a majority of that state's 48,000 home day-care contractors voted for representation by the union, which is now negotiating its first contract with the state, Dubnau said.
The New Jersey Legislature or the governor could authorize the union, according to Ann Luck of the CWA. The union plans to invite U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine (D-N.J.), the Democratic candidate for governor, to a meeting with day-care workers some time this fall, Luck said, adding there are no plans to hold a similar meeting with Doug Forrester, Corzine's Republican opponent.
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