6,000 Child Care Providers Go Union in New Jersey

More than 6,000 child care providers in New Jersey signed up for representation by CWA and AFSCME. The workers subsequently gained collective bargaining rights when New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine signed an Executive Order on Aug. 2, granting the workers the right to bargain collectively. CWA 1037 will represent the child care providers mostly in the Northern counties, while AFSCME will take the Southern counties.

The campaign was won thanks to a massive amount of house visiting around the State.  Local 1037 has also built up a "Neighborhood Shop Steward" system of activists throughout the State.  The Child Care Providers are low wage "independent contractors."  They provide child care service in their homes.

This was truly a group effort. All Local 1037 staff assisted on the campaign, and the following 1037 Organizers and activists worked tirelessly on the campaign: Heidi Thomas, Mark Lender, Nicole Daywalt, Alexis Anderson, Diego Ponce, Mary Jones, Stacey Stephens, Shawonda Brown, Lakicia Jenkins, Ayana Jarrett, Musu Sirleaf, Anne Luck and Local 1037 Presidnet, Hetty Rosenstein.