Where child care unions currently exist
15 Unions have been formed across the nation. The door knocking campaign began across the nation around 2005. Since then unions in New Jersey, Ohio, Kansas, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Wisconsin and recently Connecticut were formed by Executive Order. This means the Governor of the state was presented with authorization cards collected by the union. Then the Governor, through an Executive Order, directed their respective DHS departments to negotiate with the unions.
Legislation in Maine and New Mexico allowed the formation of child care unions.
A combination of both legislation and Executive Orders enabled the formation of unions in Washington, Oregon and Illinois.
Michigan was unique in that it did neither. Instead, the state formed an “interlocal agreement” to create a shell employer with whom to collectively bargain. But, on March 1, 2010, the DHS Director in Michigan ended the contract citing "The union council has not delivered on its original goals to enhance and improve the delivery of quality care for children whose parents receive assistance from the department. That's why we will stop all funding and, because these providers are not state employees, we will also cease collecting union dues." This kind of direct end to the contract was and is only possible in Michigan because of the way the union was formed. This is not an option in the other states.
UPDATE ON THE MICHIGAN UNION, (posting on May 19) "Caregiver could win refund from union she never wanted"
http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20110519/NEWS01/105190314/Caregiver-c
Legislation in Maine and New Mexico allowed the formation of child care unions.
A combination of both legislation and Executive Orders enabled the formation of unions in Washington, Oregon and Illinois.
Michigan was unique in that it did neither. Instead, the state formed an “interlocal agreement” to create a shell employer with whom to collectively bargain. But, on March 1, 2010, the DHS Director in Michigan ended the contract citing "The union council has not delivered on its original goals to enhance and improve the delivery of quality care for children whose parents receive assistance from the department. That's why we will stop all funding and, because these providers are not state employees, we will also cease collecting union dues." This kind of direct end to the contract was and is only possible in Michigan because of the way the union was formed. This is not an option in the other states.
UPDATE ON THE MICHIGAN UNION, (posting on May 19) "Caregiver could win refund from union she never wanted"
http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20110519/NEWS01/105190314/Caregiver-c
Union Contracts, Dues and Healthcare
The best way to get an idea of what might happen here in Minnesota is to see what has already happened in other states. We have compiled information about the three most common questions.
*What are the dues going to be?
*Can they really get me affordable, dependable health care coverage?
*How is this going to affect my business?
According to the unions, it is not known what Minnesota's proposed union contracts will look like until it happens. But by looking at the contracts in other states, they provide a good picture of what can happen here. We have listed the full amount of monthly dues and whether or not health care funds/coverage were negotiated in the contract. Please note that all these links were active when we started this site. If you encounter a problem, please let us know. We have saved these documents in a pdf file and can email them to you.
*What are the dues going to be?
*Can they really get me affordable, dependable health care coverage?
*How is this going to affect my business?
According to the unions, it is not known what Minnesota's proposed union contracts will look like until it happens. But by looking at the contracts in other states, they provide a good picture of what can happen here. We have listed the full amount of monthly dues and whether or not health care funds/coverage were negotiated in the contract. Please note that all these links were active when we started this site. If you encounter a problem, please let us know. We have saved these documents in a pdf file and can email them to you.
New Jersey (CWA and AFSCME)
Dues: Unknown
Healthcare: No
This is the first tentative contract before it was signed. We have been unable to find a new contract but due to funding issues, providers in one of the counties have received the following notice in regard to subsidy payments:
Agency funds were not sufficient to accommodate the total number of children under agreement. CCR&Rs are contractually obligated not to spend beyond their contract ceilings. As a result, all agreements were adjusted to ensure that funds were not overspent. No violation of regulations occurred. All parents signed the agreement certification page indicating they “understand that the subsidy and any future subsidies funded by the program for which I am eligible, are contingent upon availability of federal and state funds”.
Contract: http://www.cwa1037.org/childcare/agreement.pdf
Kansas (AFSCME)
Dues: $25 per month
Right to Work state, unable to assess fair share fees
Healthcare: No
Contract: http://afscmecouncil72.org/kansas-contract
Michigan (AFSCME)
March 1, 2010 contract terminated
Contract: http://www.uaw.org/sites/default/files/contract2008.pdf
Oregon (AFSCME)
Dues: $25 per month
Healthcare: No
Contract: http://www.oregonccpt.com/docs/contracts/AFSCME_Child_Care_Contract.pdf
Maine (SEIU)
Dues: Unknown
Healthcare: No
Contract: http://www.mseaseiu.org/contracts/kidsfirst2011.pdf
Maryland (SEIU)
Dues: Unknown
Service fee for non-members assessed: yes
Healthcare: No
Contract: http://www.seiu500.org/files/2011/07/2011-SEIU-500-Contract-for-MD-Child-Care-Providers.pdf
New York (CSEA - AFL-CIO & AFSCME)
Dues: 2% of the child care assistance subsidy check up to $690 per year.
Fair Share Fees: Yes and for providers who do not serve a child care assistance family "child care providers who do not receive child care subsidies will be notified of the union dues/fees directly by the union with instruction on how to submit annual dues/fees."
http://childcarecouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/11-OCFS-LCM-13.pdf
Contract: http://voicecsea.org/pdf/VOICE_Agreement.pdf
Iowa (AFSCME)
Dues: Unknown
Healthcare: Unknown
Contract http://www.afscmeiowa.org/images/1212%20Child%20Care%20MOU.pdf
Illinois (SEIU)
Dues: 2.1% of the state subsidy check, with a minimum of $15 per month, maximum of $75 per month
Healthcare: Yes, healthcare for up to 5,000 providers if you meet ALL the requirments below:You must provide care for a child on the assistance program for at least one year
You must have billed the state for at least 185 days of care over three consecutive months, for three consecutive quarters
You must be currently providing child care
Contract http://www.state.il.us/cms/download/pdfs/emp_seiuchild.pdf
Washington (SEIU)
Dues: 2% of state subsidy check
Healthcare: Yes if you care for at least four children on the subsidy program. Spots are limited in the program and providers are placed on a waiting list when the spots are full.
Contract http://www.ofm.wa.gov/labor/agreements/09-11/childcare/childcare.pdf
New Mexico (AFSCME)
Still in negotiations
Pennsylvania (CCPUnited)
Negotiations were restarted July 2010 after previous negotiations had stalled. No further information available.
http://childcareprovidersunited.squarespace.com/blog-pa/tag/ocdel
Executive Order: family child care
Executive Order: unregistered child care
Ohio (AFSCME)
Dues: $25 per month for members and $25 per month fair share dues (non-members)
Healthcare: No
Contract http://www.happyhomesdaycareassociation.org/files/Union_Info.pdf
Wisconsin
Dues: $25 per month
Wisconsin state statues does not allow for fair share fee assessment
Healthcare: No
Contract http://wisconsinccpt.unionactive.com/docs/contracts/Child_Care_Workers_Contract_7_28_08.pdf
