California: A Growing Movement

CALIFORNIA

Child care providers from California and Oregon rocked AFSCME's recent Western Regional Women's Conference in San Jose with a show of force and growing power. Last September, 5,000 Oregon child care providers won an executive order designating AFSCME as their exclusive bargaining agent. With a union, they're now able to work for affordable health care insurance and a retirement plan.

Among the conference participants was Rebecca Davis, a family provider from Contra Costa County, Calif. "I'm so pumped up seeing the support of all the other AFSCME women and leaders from around the country backing this growing movement to unionize child care providers," she said. "It makes me want to go out and bring others into the union."

Family child care providers across the country are asserting their right to be heard and getting the respect they deserve. AFSCME is leading the way, organizing thousands of child care providers in dozens of states.