For Immediate Release
June 25, 2021
Contact: Maya Polon, (916) 444-7614
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS MAKE HISTORY: WOMEN OF COLOR-LED UNION WINS AGREEMENT WITH STATE TO RAISE PROVIDER PAY AND INCREASE ACCESS TO CHILD CARE FOR CALIFORNIA FAMILIES
Sacramento, CA – Child Care Providers United (CCPU), California’s union representing 40,000 family child care providers, announced today a history-making first contract with the State of California that includes significant rate increases for the workforce providing early learning and expands access to care for working parents. The victory was led by the Black and Brown women who serve as the backbone of California’s care infrastructure and economy and comes after more than a year of intense action: thousands of phone calls to legislators and the Governor; car caravans and protests outside of state offices; and day-long trips to the state Capitol to fight for this historic agreement.
“I couldn’t be more proud to be a second generation child care provider and to win this long fight for better rates and dignity for my union siblings and providers like my mother, who helped me see that by joining our voices together collectively, we could create a brighter future for both California’s child care providers and young learners. I saw my mother’s dream realized as I served on CCPU’s negotiations team, sitting down with the state to make clear the investments needed to rebuild California’s dwindling child care workforce and to make quality early learning opportunities more accessible to all California families. Through our two COVID-19 agreements and now this final collective bargaining agreement, I am grateful for the work done by the legislature to champion child care investments and to the Governor who finally sat down and heard our voices,” said Miren Algorri, a San Diego child care provider.
“As CCPU’s Chairperson and Chief Negotiator, I want to commend the sacrifice of child care providers who hired aides and took time out of their already hectic workdays to sit down with the state day after day over the past year to fight for the future of child care in California. The work providers put in at the bargaining table will positively impact the lives of California’s children for decades to come and reinvigorate a workforce that has declined by almost half in the last thirteen years. I want to thank legislative leaders who stood by our side and the parents and children who joined the hundreds of providers all over the state in calling on Governor Newsom to reach the place we find ourselves at today. And finally, I want to thank Governor Newsom for hearing providers’ voices and sitting down with us to reach this final agreement,” said Max Arias, CCPU Chairperson and Chief Negotiator.
The collective bargaining agreement marks a new chapter in providers’ decades-long fight for fair pay and recognition for their pivotal role in early brain development, closing opportunity gaps faced by children of color, and leveling the playing field for working women. Their historic first contract comes after providers endured devastating blows to their business during the COVID-19 pandemic, forced to close for weeks when a child in their care was exposed to the virus, taking on significant costs for cleaning and equipment to support distance learning, and seeing revenue plummet during stay-at-home orders. Thousands of child care businesses closed during the pandemic.
The agreement will go before providers for a ratification vote in the coming weeks. The agreement includes:
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The first increase in pay providers have seen in five years that will amount to a fair rates increase for all providers
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New funding for additional provider training
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New funding to allow more providers to become licensed
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Many other long awaited supports for providers throughout the state
Orgullosamente soy una Proveedora de Cuidado Infantil en casa, desde hace 17 anos, y agradecida con nuestra Union CCPU y con el respaldo y cobijadas con la 521. Amo mi trabajo y amo a los niños . Después de tanto luchar por este contrato que beneficia a tantas proveedoras, mujeres trabajadoras de diferentes etnias, Latinas, Negras, Americanas, Orientales , Asiáticas, etc. que estoy muy orgullosa y feliz por haber logrado este triunfo por lo que tanto luchamos. Mil gracias a cada uno de nuestros representantes, a la UNION y lideres que nos apoyaron y siempre nos motivaron y guiaron !!! Las llamadas, las marchas, los textos que enviaron las proveedoras, nuestras amistades, nuestra familia y las familias de nuestros niños , gracias a todos por este gran apoyo.!! Y vamos por mas!! Si se puede y Si se pudo !!
Great work
That is beautiful we can try to live a little bit now thank you God
Thank you
I am so proud of being a child care provider. After working for 35 years as Preschool teacher I decide to retire but the reality was that the Social security pension wont let have a decent life and my own five grandchildren were struggling to have a place after school so I decided to open my family child care home without knowing that another big reason to be a childcare provider was coming when this terrible Pandemic will let so many parents without hope to go back to work. I decided to keep open my doors and help essential workers first and now anyone that reach my small business and trust my work and dedication to children. These time is hard for everyone but with more help from the government and community we will survive. Prevention and take care our health is the first clue to survive.
Thank so much to ALL the members of childcare Organizations (unions) for have
Thank you 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Gracias por todo lo que se ah logrado Gracias a todos los equipo de negociaciones del CCPU y a todas las Provedoras que están siempre presentes
Gracias a todos ustedes por luchar por todas nosotras , y les agradecemos y decíamos que Dios las come de grande Bendición , yo soy una Probedora que me gusta mucho mi trabajo y que agradezco a Dios cada día por tener esta profesión
Awesome Job you guys are the best . I want to Thank every one for all the hard work that they put in to make this happen for all providers around the world
keep up they Awesome job that you guys do . love you all Gina Williams
Muy contenta porque por muchos años hemos querido este contrato y aumento de tarifas. Ya con 15 años en mi child care he visto a mis familias luchar por su derecho a un cuidado infantil de calidad. Y creo lo hemos logrado juntos como una comunidad que somos.Gracias a. Mis compañeras de la union que como siempre se dan el tiempo y el esfuerzo por luchar por nuestros derechos, gracias porque el cambio lo hicieron posible y ahora estamos en victoria, gracias a mis familias que cuando fue necesario siempre estuvieron apoyando con llamadas y gracias a todos los niños de todas nuestras guarderías porque ellos siempre nos motivaron a luchar y a salir adelante por un futuro mejor.
Great!
When will we receive $$