New Jersey Child Care Providers Say Yes to AFSCME Power

January 01, 2006

Nearly 5,000 home child care providers in New Jersey will finally have a voice thanks to AFSCME and the Communications Workers of America.

Gov. Jon Corzine (D) signed an executive order in early August authorizing the Child Care Workers Union (CCWU, a joint effort by AFSCME Council 1 (http://www.afscmenj.org/) and CWA) to represent these workers who until now had been classified as independent contractors without the right to unionize.

"This is a good thing for the citizens of New Jersey and provides them with an opportunity not only to improve their quality of life but the quality of child care," said AFSCME International vice president and Council 1 Exec. Dir. Sherryl Gordon. "This was made possible with the assistance of the national union, which was with us all the way."

Child care providers in the state had been working without benefits for wages averaging $100 a week per child. 
The executive order grants CCWU bargaining rights for wages, benefits, health and safety conditions and "any other matters that would improve recruitment and retention of qualified family child care providers."

Although the order does not grant workers status as state employees, the state will certify their qualifications and pay their salaries.

Corzine's measure marks the culmination of a year-long campaign of door-to-door talks and activism by child care workers and AFSCME. Already in March, the State Board of Mediation had certified that a majority of New Jersey's child care providers signed authorization cards stating their intention to organize with CCWU.

AFSCME is the only union with a division founded by and for family child care workers, working with over 150,000 providers nationwide.

For a full text of Corzine's executive order recognizing CCWU, go to:http://www.state.nj.us/governor/news/news/approved/20060802b.html