Public Employee Press

Labor coalition fights for affordable child care

At home and on the job as a Local 1549 shop steward, day care is vital to Clerical Associate Jamaisa Johnson. She just learned that her 3-year-old daughter Paige has asthma. “All my needs revolve around Paige’s needs,” she said. In February, Paige began attending a day care center run by Ms. Johnson’s church.

“There are lots of single mothers among my members at Bellevue Hospital,” she said. “If a child gets sick, they’re forced to stay home. This can lead to the employee being disciplined.”

Linda Ruiz of Health Services Employees Local 768 is looking for a summer day care program so she doesn’t have to leave her her niece, 13, home alone. “Kids between 10 and 13 are locked out,” she said. “I’m spending my time looking for a program.”

Pressing needs of such parents drive the work of the New York Union Child Care Coalition, which includes DC 37. The coalition focuses on helping union members get child care, helping unions put child care issues on the bargaining table, and helping unions and their members use political action to shape policy and create more affordable child care.

DC 37 joined in the coalition’s successful fight to get state child care subsidies for the Liberty Zone in Lower Manhattan. “As of May 1, 142 DC 37 members in the Liberty Zone are receiving subsidies,” said Moira Dolan of the DC 37 Research and Negotiations Dept. “Over 500 union families have been pre-screened as eligible, but not all of them have completed the application. This means they are losing money and access to quality care.”

Training program Oct. 15
In the fall, the coalition will hold a free Saturday training program to prepare union members as advocates for child care and other work and family issues, such as fighting the Bush administration’s plan to weaken the Family and Medical Leave Act. Sponsored by several DC 37 locals, the Oct. 15 session will focus on communication, organizing and political action skills. If you want to prepare to help in the fight for affordable and quality day care, save the date!

Meanwhile, more parents can now take advantage of the subsidy money still available for the Liberty Zone. Members who live or work below 14th Street should contact Cindy DesAnges at 212-809-3619, ext. 11, for applications. Members can get information on the Liberty Zone and other programs of the coalition by calling their union rep or going to www.nyunionchildcarecoalition.org.