This year in Olympia, SEIU 925 members drove groundbreaking legislation to transform child care. A statewide Child Care Workforce Standards Board would bring together early learning educators, employers, families, and the state to help solve our child care crisis and raise standards in the industry.
Unfortunately, the bill to create a Standards Board didn’t make it out of a key legislative committee. This is disappointing — but it’s not the end of the fight.
All early learning professionals deserve fair wages, better working conditions, real respect, and the chance to join a union.
Washington State is facing a budget shortfall, with lawmakers proposing billions of dollars in cuts to essential services – including early learning and support for working families. This harsh economic forecast is a reminder of the power of our union. Fighting back against these cuts won’t be easy, but the way we win is by building our power and coming together at our workplaces, across our differences. Union members took action —testified, wrote emails, made calls, and spoke up— and made an impact in Olympia.
Our union contract ensures that family child care providers have a seat at the table – but center workers deserve a voice too. We will continue to engage center workers in their fight for a union and better wages. Together in our union, we can transform the early learning industry in Washington.