WHEREAS:
AFSCME represents 150,000 childcare workers and home providers and has a huge stake in the growing child care industry across the nation; and

WHEREAS:
The need of low-income families, either single-parent or two-parent, to have the necessity for safe, quality and affordable child care has risen dramatically due to inflation, the introduction of TANF and other factors. This developing industry is growing exponentially as parents are forced to work longer hours and there is a decrease in extended families providing such services; and

WHEREAS:
Childcare has become a growing industry in the nation and in New York City alone the early care and education sector of the economy generates $1.9 billion, which includes parent fees, government subsidies and industry support paid by the government; and

WHEREAS:
The childcare industry must be recognized as a vital economic engine that is a necessary and an integral part of the social infrastructure that keeps the nation working by enabling parents to work and in many places provides social and educational structures for the nation’s infants, toddlers and children; and

WHEREAS:
The childcare industry supports local and national economies, relieves parents of burdensome concerns about their children and offers children a safe haven from children being home alone or with unqualified care.  In a recent study it was demonstrated that every dollar spent on childcare produced $1.89 for the New York City economy, beating out the hotel and lodging industry and the apparel and accessory industry.  It is believed that the effect of the childcare industry in other areas would produce similar results; and

WHEREAS:
The federal Child Care and Development Block Grant exists to aid low-income parents to afford quality, affordable and safe child care by providing a subsidy to child care providers and organizations.  But the appropriations for the CCDBG have not increased in five years, a substantial cut when adjusted for inflation.  More than 250,000 children have lost federal assistance since 2000.  President Bush has proposed freezing mandatory CCDBG funding at $2.917 billion.  Without the increased funding, states will have restricted eligibility for child care assistance; increase costs to parents for child care and not increase wages for organized and unorganized child care workers and home providers.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME calls for an increase of $540 million for the Child Care and Development Block Grant in the fiscal year 2007 Labor-HHS-Labor Appropriations Bill.  This bill would restore subsidies to an additional 100,000 children; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME increase its organizing efforts and its resources across the nation to organize child care workers in this emerging and growing industry by providing affiliates with the research, training and the means to carry out organizing campaigns in local areas in line with recommendations of the 21st Century Initiative; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That AFSCME promotes its organized childcare workers as models for the industry to promote this union as the national leader in organizing childcare workers and home providers.
 
 
SUBMITTED BY: Kim Medina, President and Delegate
AFSCME Local 253, Council 1707
New York