Publications

Ohio Child Care Providers Ratify First Contract

September 9, 2009

On the eve of Labor Day, nearly 8,000 in-home child care providers in Ohio ratified their first AFSCME contract. The agreement guarantees union recognition, establishes a grievance procedure, and gives in-home child care providers new rights on the job.

“There aren’t many jobs that are more important than taking care of Ohio’s children,” said AFSCME Council 8 President John A. Lyall, who is also and International vice president. “Now, with this contract, in-home child care providers are going to receive the respect they’ve earned.”

Lyall added that the pact, approved by a virtually unanimous vote, enables workers to address reimbursement rates, consistent pay practices, and training and operating rules with the state and county officials.

“Just getting all 88 counties to adopt uniform rules statewide, has been a huge job. I’m proud of the work the union has done getting to this point and I support this new contract,” said union member Estella Johnson, a 21-year child care provider in the Cincinnati region.

“The new agreement includes the AFSCME Child Care Provider’s Bill of Rights,” said Council 8 General Counsel R. Sean Grayson, who led the union’s negotiating committee. The Bill of Rights includes the right of providers to review and copy their files, to receive impartial evaluations, and “to be treated with respect during visits, inspections and investigations,” Grayson stated.

The success in Ohio is part of a national movement among child care providers to gain dignity and a voice through AFSCME. Now, the workers have more power when it comes to talking to state and county officials about critical issues like reimbursement rates, consistent pay practices, training and operating rules.

In addition to Ohio, AFSCME represents about 150,000 family child care providers in California, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Print Version