Last week, elected officials left Springfield without doing their job--again. So SEIU Healthcare Illinoismembers took their fight to protect home and childcare workers from budget cuts to the scene of the crime. Protesting in the statehouse, members demanded an end to budget cuts that would devastate home care, child care and countless other human service programs in Illinois. Governor Quinn agreed and vetoed the bill.

Recently, healthcare activists gathered at Rep. Kirk's campaign kickoff for his Senate bid--to fill the seat that was previously held by President Obama--to demand he support measures that will bring quality, affordable healthcare.

But it seems as though Rep. Kirk isn't trying nearly hard enough to emulate the former holder of the Senate seat he's bidding for, when it comes to stepping up the plate to tackle the biggest challenge facing our country: making sure every American has access to high quality, affordable health care. After the Monday event announcing his candidacy, Rep. Kirk told one of the activists, "We can't afford to insure everyone."

According to a report by HCAN, from 2000 to 2007, health insurance premiums for working Illinois families has risen by 73 percent. So the real question is, how can we afford not to support fixing America's broken healthcare system? SEIU members will continue pressuring their legislators to pass measures that put quality care in reach for everyone. Stay tuned for more information on how you can help.

Last week, 5,000 Kids First Maryland/SEIU Local 500 child care providers voted by a margin of more than 30-to-1 to ratify their first contract. After 14 months of negotiations, providers won an increase in subsidy rates without an increase in parent co-pays; accountability for late payments from the state; and access to important decision-making bodies in the child care system.

"It's a historic moment. Providers who help raise and educate Maryland's most vulnerable children now have a seat at the table," explains Merle Cuttitta, President of SEIU Local 500, of the new contract that will cover providers who participate in the state subsidy program. Local 500 child care providers first voted to form a union with SEIU in September 2007 after they gained collective bargaining rights through an executive order signed by Gov. Martin O'Malley.

« Read a letter from the bargaining team & contract highlights.
« Learn more about SEIU Kids First

Five thousand family child care providers who participate in the state's child care subsidy program have settled a historic first contract with the Governor's Office and the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). Kids First Maryland/SEIU Local 500 child care providers voted by a margin of more than 30-to-1 to ratify their first contract. After 14 months of negotiations, providers won a nearly three-percent increase in the state subsidy, access to decision-making committees, and the creation of a new Training Committee of state officials and child care providers to recommend future improvements.

"Today the workers who help raise and educate Maryland's most vulnerable children have taken a significant step toward gaining a seat at the table, where they can advocate for themselves and the children in their care - this is a win for providers and families," said Merle Cuttitta, President of SEIU Local 500. The majority of parents receiving state subsidies for their children's care are single mothers entering the workforce or gaining an education through welfare-to-work programs. They are concentrated in Maryland's most underserved communities.

There remains much to be done to mend a system that for too long has pushed quality in-home child care providers out of business. The number of family child care homes in Maryland dropped by 26 percent between 1997 and 2007, due in part to staggeringly low subsidy rates and lack of provider access to affordable health insurance and other benefits. The contract creates additional avenues for addressing these issues, including the creation of a joint committee of state officials and union providers to further explore health care coverage options for family child care providers.

Still, provider-leaders are savoring the victory which they believe is a crucial milestone on their path to the professional respect and fair compensation that they deserve. "We hung in there; it's been more than four years. We're really teaching a great lesson to the children in our care: you work hard and stick with it, and you can accomplish anything," said Crystal Barksdale, Kids First Maryland leader and family child care provider in Baltimore County.

« Read a letter from the bargaining team & contract highlights.
« Learn more about SEIU Kids First

Rebia Mixon Clay is a former real estate manager who quit her job to provide full-time care to her brother, who has cerebral palsy and is disabled. Here at SEIU, we had the pleasure of working with Rebia when she spent several months this year as one of our grassroots member lobbyists on Capitol Hill, advocating lawmakers to pass legislation to create change for working people, their families and communities.

As a home care worker in Chicago, Rebia currently receives a $9.85 an hour, her only source of income. Billions in budget cuts to critical human services programs are set to take effect on July 1st - leaving 80,000 working parents without child care, over 40,000 seniors and people with disabilities without home care and countless other families devastated by drastic cuts to the programs they depend on. In this video, Clay describes to us the potential effect on her family -- and her community -- if the budget for home health care gets lopped in half. "When you take jobs away from poor people," she said, "it's only going to create more poor people."

As the deadline for the Illinois for the state government to adopt a new revenue source or begin slashing human services continues to creep closer, pushback is increasing. On Thursday, a group of SEIU Healthcare Illinois members who provide state-sponsored child care, in-home care, veterans services and violence counseling held demonstrations with community advocates outside Illinois lawmakers' offices to show them first-hand why they ought to save the programs. Thursday's demonstrations are the first of many protests planned for coming weeks.

Providers win first contract with higher state rates, new role in system and voice for quality care: 5,000 family care providers in Maryland won their first contract with the Department of Education and the Governor's Office yesterday. The historic contract includes a nearly three-percent increase in the state subsidy, access to decision-making committees, and the creation of a new Training Committee of state officials and child care providers to recommend future improvements.

"We hung in there; it's been more than four years. We're really teaching a great lesson to the children in our care: you work hard and stick with it, and you can accomplish anything," said Crystal Barksdale, Kids First Maryland leader and family child care provider in Baltimore County. More contract details on this contract victory for SEIU Local 500 child care providers.

Dozens of provider leaders from Child Care Providers United of California--a joint SEIU/AFSCME local union--rallied May 4th at the state Capitol in Sacramento and called on lawmakers to support payment reform measures on behalf of providers and working families.

CCPUnited leaders met directly with these legislators to urge them to support AB 304 (Price), which would make direct deposit available for providers statewide who serve working families eligible for subsidized child care, and AB 315 (de Leon), which would standardize payment procedures and notification policies for providers. In addition, they called on legislators to reject measures to reduce reimbursements rates and increase family fees in a hearing on the current budget negotiations.

"We're here from all over the state to make our voices heard for California's working families," said Socorro Avita, a provider and CCPUnited leader from Los Angeles.
Both AB 304 and AB 315 passed their respective committees in early May. Providers testified at legislative hearings in strong support of both bills, while giving examples of how late payments can cause numerous problems for providers who often live paycheck to paycheck.

"Providers know firsthand the struggles of making ends meet," testified Carolyn Thompson, provider and CCPUnited leader from Contra Costa County. "Lawmakers can make a huge difference in so many lives by saying 'yes' to [these bills]."

Janne Day, a CCPUnited member from Sacramento, commented on the flaws of the current system: "Regardless of where the error or delay occurs, it is the provider who doesn't get paid. Our own bills won't wait ... What this bill is asking for should already be in place."

During an earlier committee hearing on the state's budget, Kern County CCPUnited member Maria Munoz was invited to testify against wage reductions and fee increases, as well as to urge elected leaders to use federal stimulus money to take kids off the state's waiting list for subsidized care.

"I know many parents who call their local alternative payment [AP] agency to apply for child care subsidies, and are immediately put on a waiting list and given their numerical place. Every couple of weeks they call the AP to check on their position, and every time the number stays exactly the same. Years can go by before they reach the top of the list." said Munoz.

Although AB 304 and AB 315 were passed during their initial subcommittee votes, there are still several hurdles they need to clear before they can become law. That's why providers are continuing to call and write their legislators about the state budget and are meeting regularly with their elected officials and staff to tell them just how important these bills are for providers and the families they serve.

Family providers are asking state legislators to direct federal money to parent support rather than rate increases.

After consulting with members across the state, Washington state family child care providers are urging legislators and the governor to focus the state's $33 million incoming share of federal child care grants to help low-wage families access quality child care in the economic downturn. Simultaneously, the child care providers announced they are withdrawing their lawsuit to compel funding of an arbitrator's award of higher state-paid child care reimbursement rates.

In the fall of 2008 when the family providers negotiated their second contract in fall of 2008, an arbitrator awarded reimbursement increases of 1.6 percent in July 2009 and 2 percent in July 2010 to the child care workers--which are estimated to total $8 million over the biennium. SEIU Local 925 child care providers want to give up the $8 million in rate increases awarded to them and have funds directed instead "[To] helping parents in this time of crisis--longer authorization periods, stable co-pays, and fewer paperwork hassles--to give families time to get on their feet," said Nancy Gerber, Family Child Care Chapter President of SEIU Local 925. Gerber discusses family providers' decision to withdraw their lawsuit to compel the state to pay higher rates:

"As child care providers, we see up close how stretched and stressed parents are by the economic meltdown. Parents are losing hours of work at the same time the state has proposed increased co-pays. When parents lose jobs and withdraw their children from child care, neighborhood in-home child cares close. Then employed parents are left with fewer options.

"Children thrive and learn best in a consistent, stable, quality setting. That's the best, and that's what we provide.

"We know what the alternatives are--latchkey children, children cared for by young teens, children in "underground" care with providers who are untrained and unknown. These are not healthy for children's development.

[...] "We are calling on the legislature to do the right thing... by parents... by providers, and most of all... by the children.

Family child care providers care for 31,000 children of low-wage parents across the state and a similar number of other children. Visit www.seiu925.org for more information.

An ad campaign launched this week begging Illinois lawmakers not to cut home care and child care services funding "to the bone" in FY10 budget. The ad campaign by SEIU Healthcare Illinois--representing more than 35,000 child care providers and 35,000 workers who provide home care to seniors and people with disabilities--includes television, radio, print, online and billboards ads that have begun in Springfield, Ill. and will spread across the state in the coming weeks.

Watch the TV ad here:

If carried out, the proposed budget cuts to state-funded child care and home care services in the FY10 budget would have a devastating effect on workers and the people they care for. "Cutting a few hours of care a week may not seem like a big deal to number crunchers, but for many seniors and our families it determines whether or not we are able to stay in our homes and near our loved ones," said Marlin Hosick, a 73-year-old Pekin resident who is one of the 51,000 Illinois seniors receiving in-home care through the Community Care Program. Even slight cutbacks would require these seniors to reassess their need for constant care--likely forcing many into nursing homes.

SEIU Healthcare Illinois is part of a broader coalition, Campaign for Illinois' Future, that supports an income tax increase to help fill the the estimated $12.4 billion budget gap, rather than cutting vital programs and services. If you live in Illinois, act now to stop devastating cuts to quality care.

Tell Springfield: Don't Cut Home Care and Child Care.

Note: Theo is a Grassroots Lobbyist through SEIU's Change That Works campaign. You can read more about the program here. Video included below.

I attended a hearing at the Rayburn building about "Family Friendly Policies". For the first time in my life I was proud of some members of Congress; most especially Mr. Hare of Illinois, and Ms Carol Shea-Porter of New Hampshire.

A very brave woman named Rebia Mixon Clay told a very compelling and powerful story about the vicissitudes of life that she faces every day as a home health care Worker. Ms. Mixon Clay, was succinct, on point and eloquent. In a very personal and uplifting way she brought home the plight of many people in this country. I felt honored to be there to hear this incredibly brave and valiant woman speak.

Rebia did not ask for any handouts, she did not ask for pity or sympathy. She simply demanded the respect due to all American workers. And (as far as I am concerned) she fully deserves it.

I have the privilege of working with Rebia, and SEIU, and I must say that Rebia is an extraordinarily accurate snapshot of the people, and the passion of SEIU.

Maryland, Minnesota, Rhode Island
See this page below for child care wins in these states.

California, Massachusetts
Check out seiu2004.org about SEIU Kids First in California and makidsfirst.org about SEIU Kids First in Massachusetts. 

Illinois, Oregon, Washington
Don't miss this page for information about historic agreements in these states.

More at KidsFirstMaryland.org

MD Providers Ratify Historic Contract

In early July, 5,000 Kids First Maryland/SEIU Local 500 child care providers voted by a margin of more than 30-to-1 to ratify their first contract with the Department of Education and the Governor's Office.

After 14 months of negotiations, providers won a nearly three-percent increase in state subsidy rates without an increase in parent co-pays; accountability for late payments from the state; the creation of a new Training Committee of state officials and child care providers to recommend future improvements; and access to important decision-making bodies in the child care system.

"It's a historic moment. Providers who help raise and educate Maryland's most vulnerable children now have a seat at the table," explains Merle Cuttitta, President of SEIU Local 500, of the new contract that will cover providers who participate in the state subsidy program.

Local 500 child care providers first voted to form a union with SEIU in September 2007 after gaining collective bargaining rights through an executive order signed by Gov. Martin O'Malley. In a statewide election, they voted by an 80 percent majority vote to form a union with SEIU Kids First.

Providers worked together for nearly three years to gain that right to vote for their union--forming a statewide steering council and organizing committee, and joining with parents and community advocates to lobby elected officials.

« Read a letter from the bargaining team & contract highlights
« Learn more about SEIU Kids First

More at KidsFirstMinnesota.org

MN Providers Win New Early Ed Investment

After three years of cuts to early learning, Minnesota's waiting list has grown to nearly 5,000 children. SEIU providers made hundreds of phone calls and visits to urge elected officials to invest more in children.

Working together with the early education and advocacy community, providers won improvements from the legislature that will help our kids get the care they need:

• Steps toward more accessible first aid and CPR training for providers
  
• $52 million for the next three years to help restore the Child Care Assistance Program, including relief for some of the families on the state waiting list and a 6% reimbursement rate increase for 2006-7 to help providers continue to serve our communities
  
• $17 million in new funding for early education programs for the next three years.
  
  

RI Providers Beat Copay Hike for Parents

SEIU family child care providers won two victories for affordable, quality child care last month in the Rhode Island legislature, beating back a co-payment hike and gaining access to biweekly pay through direct deposit.

In June 2006, Gov. Carcieri raised out of pocket costs by nearly $700 per year for many families who receive child care assistance. SEIU providers immediately began calling and visiting their representatives to ask them to reverse the hike and help more parents afford quality child care. Just weeks after it took effect, SEIU providers got the legislature to reduce the co-pay increase by half.

Providers also won access to biweekly direct deposit for child care reimbursements. Many family child care providers go an entire month between reimbursement checks--longer when checks are lost or late. Beginning in January, providers in Rhode Island will have access to a more reliable system for reimbursements, so they can deliver more consistent, high-quality care for their kids.

"I had to tell a mother I was no longer accepting infants. She asked me if I knew any providers that were. When I told her 'no' she began to cry. She said she would lose her job if she couldn't find care. I was torn, but I took her daughter. Two years later, the child is still in my care, and the mother kept her job. I am grateful that I was able to help a working family by helping a child grow."
-- Leslie Cummings, Washington

Parents who have come up against a shortage of affordable child care can relate to the mother in Leslie's story. Child care is a basic necessity for most working families. In the U.S., more than 60 percent of children under six spend time in non-parental care.

Quality care and early education give parents peace of mind and make a profound difference in the lives of children--but experienced providers are leaving the field in staggering numbers, reducing the quality and availability of care.

Why are providers leaving?

Too many can't afford to stay in the profession. Family child care providers earn about $10,500 a year. After paying for food, activities, and other expenses, providers' net earnings average between $5,132 and $8,334.

Child care reimbursements from the state rarely cover the actual cost of care, leaving most providers who accept children from families who rely on subsidies earning less than minimum wage.

Family child care providers rarely have access to health care, paid sick days, or other basic benefits that help people stay in a career. And most family providers have no voice at all in decisions that affect them and the kids in their care. These poor working conditions cause more than a third of providers to leave the field every year.

What's the solution?

Family child care providers across the United States are joining together in SEIU to win a strong voice for affordable, quality child care--for kids, for families, and for our communities.

By uniting providers, parents, advocates, community groups, political leaders, and working families committed to putting children first, we can stem the loss of quality providers and improve early care and education for our children.

In Illinois, Washington and Oregon, thousands of family child care providers who had previously joined together in SEIU Kids First won statewide contractual agreements that increase public investment in early education and improve services for hundreds of thousands of children in four key areas.

1.  Workforce Development
Illinois and Washington will begin tiered reimbursement for licensed providers based on a quality rating system. Providers will receive higher rates if they meet quality standards and get extra training. In Illinois, these increases apply to license-exempt providers as well.

In Washington, providers get paid time off for free training on licensing regulations and subsidy payments, and have access to funding for additional training. License-exempt providers can receive paid training and a $250 bonus if they choose to become licensed.

In Oregon, license-exempt providers receive a 7 percent increase for completing a training program they established to improve their skills.

2.  Better Services
To relieve a shortage of care for infants, providers' contract in Washington set reimbursement rates for infants at least 15 percent higher than toddler rates. Licensed providers in Washington also receive a bonus for providing child care during non-standard hours.

In Oregon, providers helped thousands more families afford quality child care--by raising the eligibility cutoff for child care assistance from 150 percent of the federal poverty level to 185 percent, and reducing parent copays by 20 percent.

3.  Healthy Providers, Consistent Care
To ensure consistent care for children and reliable services for working parents, the contracts with Illinois and Washington include affordable health insurance for thousands of providers. Comprehensive coverage will begin in 2008.

4.  Improved Recruitment & Retention
Wage improvements help recruit and retain experienced early educators. In Illinois, reimbursement rates will increase an average of 35 percent over three years; in Washington, 10 percent for licensed providers and 7 percent for license-exempt care over two years. Oregon's rates will increase an average of 18 percent in October 2007.

All agreements maintain higher rates for licensed care than for license-exempt, as an incentive for providers to become licensed.

Over 300 early learning teachers and staff at EPIC (Enterprise for Progress in the Community) voted 165 to 54 on Friday, October 24, 2008 to join SEIU Local 925.

"We are so excited about our victory!" says Cindy Ramales, a teacher at EPIC's Prosser site. "We really feel this will help us make gains and keep the best staff at EPIC so we can provide the highest quality Head Start for the children we serve."

EPIC provides early childhood services at sites throughout Central Washington, including Yakima, Sunnyside, Prosser, East Wenatchee, and Bridgeport/Brewster. New union members include EPIC teaching staff, bus drivers, food service workers, custodians, and family support workers. The newly unionized group consists of over 300 EPIC employees.

SEIU represents 15,000 Head Start teachers and staff nationally, and SEIU Local 925 represents 10,000 family child care providers in Washington.

Read press coverage in the Yakima Herald-Republic, "Unions work to cover Head Start employees."

Largest Union Election Victory in Illinois History Fuels National Movement of Child Care Workers

CHICAGO - More than 49,000 Illinois home child care providers have voted overwhelmingly to join Local 880 of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). The ballots were counted by the American Arbitration Association Thursday after a three-week vote-by-mail election.

The final vote total was 13,484 for SEIU and 359 for no union. Another union, AFSCME, which pulled out of the election after most of the votes had already been cast, received minimal support. Overall, SEIU outpolled AFSCME by a 5-to-1 margin, receiving 82 percent of the vote to 16 percent for AFSCME. Two percent of the votes were for no union.

"This is a big step toward winning improved rates and health coverage to make child care a stable job for adults so we can provide consistent care for children," said Angenita Tanner, a home child care worker in Chicago. "Working together we can improve services so the parents in our community can go to work and support their families knowing that their children are cared for, loved, and safe."

The home child care vote is the largest union election in Illinois history and one of the largest in U.S. history. In recent decades, only the vote by 74,000 home care workers in Los Angeles to join SEIU in 1999 saw more workers unite in a single union election.The Illinois victory is fueling a national movement by more than half a million child care providers to unite for improved services for children. Joining the Illinois providers at a news conference in Chicago Thursday were child care providers from eight other states who are now organizing to join SEIU.

"We expect this vote in Illinois will be the catalyst for more than half a million family child care providers across America uniting in our union, much the same way more than 300,000 home care workers have joined SEIU since the 1999 election in Los Angeles," said Anna Burger, SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer.

Thursday"s election capped a nearly decade-long effort by child care workers to unite in SEIU to improve child services in Illinois. The vote was conducted after Gov. Rod Blagojevich issued an executive order in February that for the first time gave the providers the freedom to form a union.

The next step for the Illinois home child care providers is to elect a negotiating committee and begin bargaining with the state.

"Home child care workers will begin working with the Governor and legislature immediately to improve their reimbursement rates and achieve health insurance benefits," said Helen Miller, president of SEIU Local 880. "There is broad agreement that improving conditions for these providers will benefit the children of Illinois, and we will carry that message to Springfield until these workers get the improvements they and the children so desperately need."

The Illinois vote is also energizing efforts by family child care providers to join SEIU in a dozen other states - California, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Family child care providers from seven of those states came to Chicago Thursday to plan strategy for uniting in SEIU and to help celebrate the victory in Illinois.