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More than a Thousand Minnesota Child Care Providers to have AFSCME Representation

Fourteen hundred licensed Minnesota child care providers now have a voice at work, thanks to a unanimous decision by the Hennepin County commissioners to partner with Child Care Providers Together/AFSCME Council 5. 

CCPT has been seeking partnerships with counties because they regulate the state’s child care and play a direct role in determining subsidies established by the state. “This is a bold step by Hennepin County toward improving child care,” says AFSCME Council 5 Exec. Director Eliot Seide. “I applaud the county’s leadership and commitment to kids.”

Four months ago, 420 St. Louis County providers became the state’s first home-based child care workers to have union representation. In Ramsey County, more than half of the 860 providers have already signed up, and are awaiting a vote by the county commissioners.

Cathy Hietala, president of Hennepin County CCPT, is thrilled. “Our new union will give us a unified voice and clout at the capitol,” she declares. “Now we can lobby lawmakers on issues that affect us.” Hietala points out that both the state’s licensed providers and consumers share concerns about deep cuts in government funding and low salaries. Statewide, nearly 10,000 families have lost child care assistance funds in the past three years due to state subsidy reductions that have forced many parents to quit their jobs to care for their children at home.

The partnership agreement will focus on three areas of joint action: state and federal funding of quality child care, provider training, and early education.

“It’s smart to invest in kids,” explains Commissioner Mark Stenglein. “Give children a strong beginning and they will be on track for success. Half of Minnesota’s kids are not ready for kindergarten. We can do better in Hennepin County. That’s why it makes sense for us to work with providers through their union.”

AFSCME is the only union with a division founded by and for family child care providers. Today, CCPT/AFSCME works with 150,000 providers nationwide to deliver training opportunities, higher pay and better benefits.

AFSCME Council 5 represents 43,000 public and non-profit employees in Minnesota.


Leaders of Hennepin County CCPT include, from left, Cathy Hietala, Mary Vollmar, Carrie Stanton, Derenda Richardson and Shirell Smith.

Credit: Jennifer Lovaasen

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