CHILD CARE

WHEREAS, child care is an important union issue for working parents. In particular, there is a tremendous need for child care services for American workers and union members due to the high proportion of working mothers and fathers; and

WHEREAS, child care can strengthen the American economy and enhance the quality of life in our communities and is a vital ingredient of any effort to break the cycle of poverty and move families from welfare to work; and

WHEREAS, child care and education are part of the same process with public schools becoming increasingly responsible for the health and school readiness of preschool children. Quality child care enables children to learn and thrive; and

WHEREAS, all sectors of the economy that benefit from child care should invest in it to increase the availability of quality care and to improve the training, wages, benefits and working conditions to attract and maintain a stable staff; and

WHEREAS, child care costs have doubled in many communities, and parents need help in meeting the costs of child care:

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers support continuing efforts to expand child care programs and services, improving child care quality and increasing availability; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT call for the swift passage by Congress of the Family and Medical Leave Act and monitor the implementation of the Act for Better Child Care; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT advocate for safe, quality, affordable and accessible child care services available at school sites or located at collaborative, community-based family support service centers; and

RESOLVED, that the providing agent be America’s public schools; and

RESOLVED, that AFT members work with their unions on projects to expand and improve child care services for union families through employer-union cooperative programs, collective bargaining or other collaborative projects; and

RESOLVED, that this program be funded by additional funding for the public school systems rather than by existing funding; and

RESOLVED, that AFT reaffirm its commitment to dedicate its resources and power to promoting a living wage for child care professionals so that quality child care is feasible, as well as being a recognizable benefit and a right.