This week, your elected CCPU bargaining team returned to the table with the State of California to negotiate our new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Despite our willingness to make significant movement while maintaining what providers must have in order to reach a settlement, the State’s only proposal remained a meager approximate $10 increase per child, a 1.3% adjustment that the State proposed delaying until *March of next year or later*. They presented it with a “take it or leave it” attitude.

Let us be clear: this isn’t just a bad offer. It’s an insult.

While providers work over 25 unpaid hours every week, earn as little as $7/hour, and keep their homes open 24 hours a day to care for California’s children, the State continues to act as if we’re invisible. We held firm on our key proposals to:

  • Secure benefit funds at current levels
  • Capture the COLA money appropriated by the Legislature beginning July 1
  • Redirect unspent funds for a one-time per-child stabilization payment

But once again, our offer was rejected—and the State’s position has only regressed in recent weeks.

Even more disheartening is the State’s total lack of urgency in addressing the ongoing child care crisis.

Our plan forward involves you!

Thousands of providers, families, and supporters have expressed interest in stepping into the fight for what we deserve and what our families need. Over the next few days and weeks, we will be meeting about next steps including hosting post-card making gatherings across the state at union offices and child care homes.