November 5, 2013
By Neal Tepel
Washington, DC – Rhode Island at-home childcare workers have voted to Join the Service Employees International Union. A secret-ballot election was held by the Rhode Island State Labor Relations Board (SLRB). The group represents about 600 workers that include Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) family child care providers.
Earlier this year, the Rhode Island General Assembly approved a measure that allows child-care workers the ability to unionize.
The Quality Family Child Care Act allows Rhode Island child care providers participating in the Child Care Assistance Program the ability to form a union and negotiate with the state. Over 80% of the Rhode Island’s family childcare providers signed cards which were then filed with the SLRB.
Eight other states—Connecticut, Massachusetts, Illinois, Washington, Oregon, Maryland, New Mexico, and New Jersey—have extended bargaining rights to family child care providers.
