This week, we were thrilled to announce that the Child Care Providers United Negotiations Team reached a tentative agreement with the state, pending legislative approval, on urgent COVID-19 help for providers and families! This victory wouldn’t have been possible without the tireless work of so many of you. We kept the pressure on the state until they understood how vital our demands were to both CCPU members and families across California.
This agreement represents an important first step, as CCPU continues to negotiate its first collective bargaining agreement with the State of California, addressing provider compensation and benefits, training and professional development, and so many more priorities.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the agreement and what providers like you can expect:
- A one-time stipend of $525 per child enrolled in a subsidized care program in November 2020. Unlike the previous stipend, this one will also include children enrolled in Family Child Care Network programs. The state will provide regular updates to CCPU on the stipend distribution progress, including when providers can expect to receive these funds.
- Sixteen additional paid non-operational days when a provider closes due to COVID-19. This brings the total number of non-operational days available to providers to 40. These 16 additional days are available retroactively from September 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021. The paid closure days also apply to Network providers, which wasn’t the case before this agreement.
- A workgroup consisting of the state and CCPU members will meet to discuss spending priorities for the remaining available CARES Act funding. These priorities include, but are not limited to, a waiver of all family fees and reimbursement for providers of these fees, resources to support providers who may have closed or reduced their operations, and expediting new providers’ recruitment.
- This agreement includes a grievance process to resolve any disputes that arise over it quickly.
- Finally, while not part of the formal agreement, the state has agreed to spend over $150 million to continue expanding emergency childcare for essential workers.
But our work isn’t done — we still need the state legislature to vote in favor of this agreement next week!
Call the state leaders from your region between 9 am and 5 pm!
Tell them to vote “YES” and make child care a priority!
Assembly Budget Committee Members:
Northern California
Philip Y. Ting (Chair): 916-319-2019
Dr. Joaquin Arambula: 916-319-2031
David Chiu: 916-319-2017
Jim Cooper: 916-319-2009
Jim Frazier: 916-319-2011
Alex Lee: 916-319-2025
Kevin McCarty – 916-319-2007
Kevin Mullin: 916-319-2022
Mark Stone: 916-319-2029
Jim Wood: 916-319-2002
Southern California
Steve Bennett: 916-319-2037
Richard Bloom: 916-319-2050
Wendy Carrillo: 916-319-2051
Laura Friedman: 916-319-2043
Cristina Garcia: 916-319-2058
Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, Sr.: 916-319-2059
Jose Medina: 916-319-2061
Adrin Nazarian: 916-319-2046
Patrick O’Donnell: 916-319-2070
James C. Ramos: 916-319-2040
Eloise Gómez Reyes: 916-319-2047
Luz M. Rivas: 916-319-2039
Blanca E. Rubio: 916-319-2048
Senate Budget Committee Members:
Northern California
Nancy Skinner (Chair): 916-651-4009
Anna M. Caballero: 916-651-4012
Dave Cortese: 916-651-4015
Susan Talamantes Eggman: 916-651-4005
John Laird: 916-651-4017
Mike McGuire: 916-651-4002
Richard Pan: 916-651-4006
Bob Wieckowski: 916-651-4010
Southern California
María Elena Durazo: 916-651-4024
Dave Min: 916-651-4037
Josh Newman: 916-651-4029
Richard D. Roth: 916-651-4031
Henry I. Stern: 916-651-4027
Here is a sample script you can use:
“Hi, [INSERT NAME OF LEGISLATOR]. My name is _______ and I live in _____ County.“Family child care providers and the working families they serve need your support. We need you to vote “YES” on immediate COVID-19 relief for child care as part of the state budget’s “early action” items.
This includes the swift distribution of funds allocated by the federal government in December that will help us keep our child cares open for families.“Child care is one of the only in-person learning and care options open for families and needs critical stabilization as providers face significant health and financial risks in continuing to operate. These needs must be addressed immediately.
“We need your help NOW! Child care providers, and the families they serve, are counting on you.”
After you make your call, make sure that five providers, parents, and friends also make their calls to each state legislator. This is URGENT. It will take all of us to make sure our voice is heard.