NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT — Call Gov. Newsom TODAY! – Child Care Providers United CCPU

NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT — Call Gov. Newsom TODAY!

We stand on the shoulders of thousands of child care providers who organized to form a child care union for nearly two decades.

Last year, we won our first union contract with the State of California, and in it, we won higher pay and a pathway for healthcare and retirement plans for early educators for the first time in California history! But the state is stalling on delivering many of those victories they agreed to work with us on.

But there’s hope because we are planning to take collective action through our union!

We’ve seen before that when we speak up in big numbers, we get results!

Tell the Newsom Administration to deliver on the pay, health care, and retirement providers need to keep our doors open. Demand that his administration immediately send out our money immediately and in full. Call on his Administration to get to agreements with CCPU members on health care plans that will keep us healthy and retirement plans that keep us in this field with the knowledge we can one day retire with dignity. We cannot afford to wait any longer while they drag their feet.

We know providers’ have necessary expenses that we can’t skip, and increasing pay was one of the most important parts of the contract we fought so hard for. This is even more critical as we continue to face the impact of COVID, which caused thousands of providers to close for good last year. That is why we are continuing to demand that the state take immediate actions to expedite the supplemental pay we won!

Call Governor Newsom Monday through Friday between 9 am and 5 pm:
1-844-817-6807

Tell him to stop stalling on promised funds and prioritize our children’s early education!

Here is a sample script you can use:

Hi, my name is _______, I live in ________.
For nearly two decades child care providers like me organized to address pay and other concerns in our historic first union contract.
The state is stalling on getting providers like me our promised pay, access to affordable health care and being able to retire with dignity.
Respect my union contract and prioritize our children’s early educators.
Thank you.

We need to put pressure on state leaders! After you make your call, make sure that five providers, parents, and/or friends also call Governor Newsom. It will take all of us to make sure our cause is heard.

If you’re not yet a member of our union, Click HERE to join CCPU today. The more we come together through our union, the greater the victories we build.

	*Plan* *Rules*
Eligible participants*	You are eligible to participate in the Retirement Plan for a 2024 contribution if you are: A licensed child care provider Who has been paid 6 or more months of child subsidy in the 2023 calendar year (can be non-consecutive months).
Eligibility for benefit credit for contributions in 2024*	You will earn your full service credits for 2023 if you were paid for ten or more months of child subsidy in 2023. If you were paid for 6 or more months of child subsidy, you will receive 60% of your service credits, 70% for 7 months, 80% for 8 months and 90% for 9 months. You will not earn any service credit if you were paid for less than 6 months.
*Contributions*	The only contributions to the Retirement Plan will be paid from funding won through the CCPU collective bargaining agreement. The Plan does not accept contributions from you.
*Amount of annual employer contributions for 2024 service allocable to* participants in 2025*	You will earn one full service credit for the State contribution on your behalf in 2025 if you were paid for ten or more months of child subsidy in 2024. If you were paid for 6 to 9 months in 2024, you will receive a pro-rated service credit. You will not earn any service credit if you were paid for less than 6 months in 2024.
*Vesting*	You are “vested” in any contribution correctly made to your account. You do not need to work a minimum number of years before 2024 to be entitled to a benefit.
*Distribution events*	You can elect to receive your account when: You stop all work as a licensed provider paid for state subsidized child care for 9 consecutive months at any age (“terminate from service”); You stop all work as a licensed provider paid for state subsidized child care for 3 consecutive months at age 60 or older (“retirement”); or You attain age 73, which is the age you are required to start receiving payments, unless you are still working.
*Forms of distributions*	If you are age 60 or older and stop all work as a licensed provider for 3 consecutive months and elect to retire, you can choose to receive your account balance as: One lump-sum payment Approximately equal monthly payments for 5 years Approximately equal monthly payments for 10 years If you are younger than age 60 and stop all work as a licensed provider for 9 consecutive months, you can only elect to receive your account as one lump-sum payment.
*Death benefits*	Since your account is 100% vested, you can designate a beneficiary (or multiple beneficiaries) to receive your account balance if you die before you receive it.
*Investments*	The Board of Trustees will manage how the Retirement Plan is invested on your behalf, with the assistance of investment professionals.