TALKING POLITICS Proposed cut may energize day-care unionizing bid BY BRIAN C. JONES

Governor Donald L. Carcieri’s move to cut day-care funds for working poor families by $7 million may boost a drive by home day-care providers to unionize — which, down the line, could cost the state many millions of dollars more. "With the governor proposing cuts in the system, it gives the union more strength in terms of arguing the need for providers to have a place in bargaining over this issue other than through the budget process," says Linda Katz, policy director at The Poverty Institute at Rhode Island College School of Social Work.

In fact, it was Carcieri’s attempt last year to freeze a scheduled increase in fees paid to home day-care providers that helped launch the unionization effort, (see "Union campaign poses a collision course," News, February 13). A strong lobbying campaign by the providers managed to preserve the fee hike. But Providence-area providers, worried about the prospect of continued State House threats to the day-care program, decided to unionize.

Involved are about 1300 providers who care for up to eight children each in their homes, as opposed to free-standing child care centers. Over the years, the providers have won increases in their fees, as well as some medical benefits. But they say they remain underpaid, health benefits aren’t granted to all providers, and that they lack sick days, vacation, and retirement benefits.

The New England Health Care Employees Union, District 1199, has collected 900 signed cards from providers in support of a two-step process: first, to allow providers to be declared state employees; second, to have providers vote whether District 1199 should be their bargaining agent.

Carcieri, in the budget proposed last week, outlined a series of cutbacks:

• Eliminating an estimated 790 families and 925 children from subsidized care, by dropping income limits for families. Currently, if earnings are 225 percent of poverty, families qualify. The governor would drop the level to 200 percent of poverty. The state’s example for a family of three indicates that a family with $35,258 now qualifies. Under the governor’s plan, the income limit would drop to $31,340.

• Increasing co-payments, adding $9 to $11 a week for a family of three earning $23,505. Parents of nearly 3500 children could be impacted.

• Lowering reimbursement rates for some 1100 providers.

Katz — whose Poverty Institute has not taken a stand on the union drive — says a single mother earning $34,000 now pays $400 a month, or 14 percent of her income, in co-pays. Without subsidies, she would pay $1215 a month — about 42 percent of her income.

Donna Chartier, a North Smithfield day-care provider who does not support the union drive, agrees that many families wouldn’t be able to afford certified day-care, and that providers would also be hurt by lost business. Chartier remains opposed to the union drive, though, saying that providers have been organized well enough so far to lobby successfully for better treatment — and she expects to see that happen again in this General Assembly session.

But Joe Simoes, lead organizer for District 1199, says many providers, in the wake of Carcieri’s proposed cuts last year and this year, "have come to the realization that we are never going to make it unless we are one large group, speaking with one voice."

A rally to focus attention on day-care issues was scheduled March 3 at the State House, after the Phoenix went to press. A decision by the State Labor Relations Board on the union drive is still months away.