Home Hot Topics Articles Directors' Choice Awards About Us / Contact Us Activities & Curriculum Activities for Outcome-Based Learning Arts & Crafts Music for Learning Recommended Reading Sharing Boards: What Do YOU Think? NEWSlink Current National News Conference Calendar Topics In Early Childhood Education Art and Creativity in Early Childhood Education Job Sharing Board State Licensing Requirements Stay Connected! Each month we'll send you an email filled with articles and ideas for your classroom. Subscribe Now Date: 8/11/2006 12:20:00 PM Author: Linda Subject: Unions Yes, unions(SEIU) have been pulling out all the stops to unionize in my state of Maryland. They have told many untrue things to providers to get that signature on a card showing support. Providers in this state, thanks to our state and local associations, have shown them that we will not be bullied into anything. They never approached the state family child care association when they came into the state to organize. They secretly came up with a Bill that they tried to get passed by decieving our Legislators. Thank goodness our Legislators had the good sense to listen when we spoke. The Bill was defeated. In the end they could not even get the votes of the Legislators that they had conned into introducing the Bill. Our providers, associations, early childhood advocates and agencies had made an impact. MSFCCA (Maryland State Family Child Care Association)is the driving force for licensed family child care in Maryland and does a wonderful job at representing us. We have a voice and are heard. We have a seat at all of the tables from Legislative decisions to regulatory issues. Due to the efforts of many child care advocates in Maryland, including MSFCCA, our Licensing agency was just moved to our State Department of Education because in Maryland we realize that learning begins at birth. ALl of this shows that providers do not need a union to come in and represent them. Providers need to stand up for themselves. Get involved in your associations and support their efforts to get positive legislation, regulatory issues and other benefits for providers. Our association is now working to get Health Care benefits for providers and their families. There is power in numbers and if you choose not to be counted and let someone else do it for you, then you have no right to complain about these issues. Yes, we need society to respect the work that we do and support us accordingly but the way to get there is to tell them and show them by our actions that we will make positive changes. Unions may work well in other states that are not as organized as Maryland but my only advise would be to be informed before you make a decision to pay someone else to represent you when you can do it yourself. Name: Email: Subject

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