California child care providers ratify historic first contract to raise wages, expand access to child care

"Led by women of color, today’s historic win is the culmination of nearly 20 years of grit and resilience,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders

WASHINGTON — After two decades of organizing and doing legislative advocacy through their union, members of Child Care Providers United (CCPU) voted overwhelmingly today to ratify a historic contract with the state of California. CCPU brings together 40,000 family child care providers across the state and is a partnership of UDW/AFSCME Local 3930, SEIU Local 99 and SEIU Local 521.  

AFSCME President Lee Saunders issued the following statement congratulating the providers on their contract ratification: 

“On behalf of AFSCME’s 1.4 million members, I am thrilled to congratulate Child Care Providers United on ratifying their first-ever contract. Led by women of color, today’s historic win is the culmination of nearly 20 years of grit and resilience. With this contract, child care providers will finally receive fair compensation for the essential work they do — caring for and educating the next generation. The success of this campaign will help expand access to quality early childhood education for California’s working families.”