WHEREAS:

AFSCME has long advocated for accessible, affordable, quality child care because we recognize that child care is a critical problem for our members, as it is for all working families in America; and

WHEREAS:

AFSCME has made child care an issue at the bargaining table and has won a wide variety of child care programs which directly assist AFSCME families; and

WHEREAS:

AFSCME has fought to raise the wages of tens of thousands of child care workers whom we represent and has succeeded in negotiating wages far above average. However, compensation still does not reflect the true worth of the care provided. In general, pay for child care workers remains shamefully low, negatively affecting quality care. Inadequate compensation leads to rapid turnover in the field which compromises quality care; and

WHEREAS:

Quality child care is essential to children's safety and development. Investing in child care will pay dividends decades into the future by producing an adult workforce that is better educated, more skilled, more productive, and better able to compete in the global economy; and

WHEREAS:

Even where quality care exists, it remains unaffordable for most Americans due to the gross inadequacy of the resources in the system. Currently, the federal Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) serves only 1 in 10 eligible children. In order to be affordable, child care cannot be funded to such a large extent by parents; and

WHEREAS:

AFSCME's direct experiences have reinforced our belief that the nation's child care problems are too great to be solved at the bargaining table alone. Ten years ago, AFSCME worked in coalition to pass the CCDBG legislation; and

WHEREAS:

Approximately 200,000 AFSCME members are employed by social service agencies at the state, county and municipal levels. Research has demonstrated that on-site child day care centers strengthen the attachments between parents and children and the productivity level of the employees. Many of these members have collective bargaining rights.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That national action is again urgently needed to make child care more affordable and accessible and to improve the quality of care through increased training, higher compensation for child care providers and higher standards. Child care must be made more affordable and accessible for American families so that all families have access to quality care for infants, preschoolers, and school-age children; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That the federal government must lead the way in improving child care by making a significant investment in improving quality, accessibility, and affordability and must address teacher compensation and turnover issues. The CCDBG should be expanded to serve more low-income families. Federal funds should be mandatory so that child care improvements are ensured, rather than requiring child care advocates to fight for authorization each year; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That national standards should be adopted which address issues including, but not limited to staffing ratios by age group, group size, teacher training and continuing education, and health and safety. Compensation for child care teaching staff must be raised. Their salaries should be comparable to other professions with similar training and experience requirements; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

That the AFSCME International, councils and locals seek to utilize the collective bargaining process to obtain accessible and/or on-site quality child day care services for its members.

SUBMITTED BY:

Mabel Everett, President and Delegate
AFSCME Local 205, Council 1707
New York

David M. Bowman, President
Thomas F. Colbert, Delegate
AFSCME Local 2735, Council 67
Maryland