Hot topic right now for all of us in Vermont and across the country. There is a group that thinks we (child care providers) need a voice at the government level. They say their goal is to increase wages. They just can’t do that. In fact, if we are required to pay dues, many of us will be forced to shut down. We are not in this for the money, and we work long hours. Please don’t try to force a union.
The other issue, in my opinion anyway, is the fact that the “voice” we are being promised has no clue what to say. Lobbyists and politicians have no idea what we do and how we do it. They do not know what to ask for. We don’t want you to increase the subsidy rate for our sake, yes it helps families, but not us. We want our profession to be recognized as just that, a profession. We want folks to know why we need vacation days and mental health days. We want to communicate to folks why we need so much training and what kind we need. We want you all to know why children playing in the dirt is a good thing. We want you to know that we are taking the very best care of your children, and while it is not a lucrative business, it is the most important and rewarding career possible.
There are many issues pertaining to this union argument, but the bottom line is that we don’t need a union forced upon us. Let us speak for ourselves. More to the point, ask us what we think.
www.vtchildcareindependence.com
JenniferCyrFamilyChildCare 