The following news release was distributed Monday afternoon by Service Employees International Union Local 925: 

Washington Family Child Care Providers Improve Services for Kids
and Families with Historic First Union Contract
Agreement with state will expand access for low-income families
and help stabilize the child care profession

Family child care providers who formed a union last November with SEIU Local 925 reached an agreement with the state on a first contract that will improve early care and learning services for more than 60,000 children.

The contract -- only the second of its kind nationwide -- includes incentives for additional training, first-time access to affordable health insurance for many providers, and rate increases to stem turnover and expand options for low-income families.

“Providers do this work because we love children and want them to have a good start on life,” said Sandra VanDoren, a family child care provider and member of the bargaining team.  “We joined together because it had become so difficult for providers to keep delivering affordable, quality child care. This contract will help us make sure kids in our communities get the care they need.”  

VanDoren is a nationally-accredited provider and has cared for low-income children in her Spokane home for 18 years.  

High turnover in the child care profession has made it hard for parents to find consistent, quality child care, especially for those working evening shifts or living in rural areas. 

The new contract will improve child care options by improving state reimbursement rates and resolving administrative and financial bottlenecks associated with the subsidy program.  Over two years, the contract will raise the state’s rate for licensed child care by 10%. Licensed providers will also receive incentives to provide care for infants, and during non-traditional hours.  

The contact includes incentives for training and skills development, with a guaranteed training pool for licensed providers and improved reimbursements as they gain skills.

For the first time, license-exempt providers will have incentives to receive training and become licensed, if they choose, and the thousands of children in their care will now be eligible to receive nutritious meals through the US Department of Agriculture Food Program.  

License-exempt providers typically care for two children, and receive $2.06 an hour to care for one child, plus $1.03 for each sibling. Under the new contract, license-exempt providers will receive the same rate for all children in their care, and the rates themselves will rise 7% over two years. This change amounts to an average 31% wage improvement by the second year of the contract -- their first increase since 1999. Beginning in 2008, providers who care for at least four state-subsidized children will have access to affordable health insurance.  

Washington’s 12,000 family child care providers won the right to negotiate with the state in the 2006 legislature, with bipartisan support. They voted to form their union with SEIU Local 925, which also represents university and public school employees.

A team of 19 family child care providers from across the state together with SEIU Local 925 President Kim Cook negotiated the contract with the governor’s Office of Financial Management. Arbitrator Timothy Williams issued a ruling on Friday, Nov. 10, setting subsidy rates, the only remaining issue in the negotiations. The contract will be included in the Governor’s budget and is subject to approval by the 2007 Washington State Legislature.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2006
Tomorrow: Meet winners; plus Obama, Edwards on Wal-Mart

Make plans to attend one of two Wake Up Wal-Mart Action Parties -- with national conference calls featuring U.S. Sens. Barack Obama and John Edwards -- on Wednesday, Nov. 15 in Seattle, right before or after the "Meet the Winners" holiday fundraiser for the Puget Sound Labor Agency food bank at the Seattle Labor Temple.

"Meet the Winners," the Puget Sound Labor Agency, AFL-CIO's 25th Annual Holiday Assistance Fundraiser to benefit the Labor Agency food bank, will be from from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15 in Hall 1 of the Seattle Labor Temple, 2800 1st Ave.  Join the Labor Agency for its silver anniversary, and meet, greet and congratulate elected officials. Your participation will help needy households during this holiday season. A $15 donation to the Puget Sound Labor Agency is suggested. If you are unable to attend, contributions can be sent to the PSLA, 2800 1st Ave., Room 126, Seattle, WA, 98121. Collection bins will be available for your donations of canned goods and other non-perishable food items.

Wake-Up Wal-Mart Action Parties are planned for Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. and again at 6:30 p.m. at the offices of UFCW Local 21, 5030 1st Ave. S. in Seattle.  Last winter, tens of thousands of us attended screenings of Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Prices.  The movie kickstarted a national conversation about Wal-Mart's business practices and changed the way many Americans view the company. Now, with the holiday season approaching, it's time to take action to turn up the heat!  At the 3:30 p.m. Action Party, Sen. Barack Obama will be the featured speaker on a 4 p.m. national conference call connecting 100 similar parties across the country.  At the 6:30 p.m. Action Party, Sen. John Edwards will join in the 7 p.m. conference call. Action Partygoers will participate in a special activity to encourage Wal-Mart shoppers to join the campaign, and can sign up for a series of actions that will keep the focus on Wal-Mart this holiday season. All union members and community supporters are invited to attend this event, co-hosted by UFCW 21 and FutureWise. Pizza and salad will be provided. For more information or to RSVP, contact Steve Williamson at 206-436-6580.