Union vote highlights coronavirus crisis for California’s home day-care providers

After close to two decades of organizing and legislative struggle, tens of thousands of early childhood educators and home day-care proprietors will vote this month on whether to unionize, a move many hope will reinvigorate California’s ailing child-care system in a moment of unprecedented crisis for millions of working families.

“People need to understand, we’re not any regular union,” said Zoila Carolina Toma, a longtime organizer with Child Care Providers United, which could soon represent home-based child-care workers in negotiations with the state. “We’re not just fighting for us as workers; we’re also fighting for our children’s future.”

We Need your voice

California Child Care Providers Unite

From rallies in the streets of the capitol to hosting local representatives, we’re looking for ways that enable everyone to participate — because that’s the only way change happens.

	*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.