From Michigan, Big News for Little Kids

I'm often asked why unions are still needed. After all, unlike the early days of the labor movement, America has a large (though shrinking) middle class. The overwhelming majority of American workers earn above the minimum wage. And child labor is, thankfully, largely an ugly thing of our past.

All of this progress is directly attributed to the rise of labor unions. But for all our successes, the fact remains that in the wealthiest country in the world, 37 million hardworking Americans still live in poverty. Nearly 47 million lack health insurance. And millions of American workers lack basic rights and respect for the work they do.

For proof, look no further than Michigan's nearly 40,000 family child care providers. Most providers in the state started caring for children in low-income families when welfare reform demanded that many people leave welfare for work. The federal and state governments helped ease the burden by subsidizing child care for these newly employed parents.

But that was 10 years ago - and subsidies in Michigan haven't budged. These providers care for children up to 12 hours a day, and are paid less than two dollars an hour and receive no health insurance. It's a disgrace that in this country these providers are treated so poorly for the important work they do helping to raise our children.

That's why I'm pleased to announce the big news that these child care providers have made the historic decision to unionize under Child Care Providers Together Michigan (CCPTM), a joint organizing effort between AFSCME and the United Auto Workers. And to those who still believe the falsehood that unions are declining, take note: CCPTM won recognition for their union through the largest card check campaign victory in modern American history, a process that involves an independent authority validates signed union cards.

For the first time, Michigan's providers will have a say in their pay, their benefits and how they are treated. For the first time, they will play an active role in the political process, pressuring politicians to improve child care in their state. For the first time, they will have a union and a collective voice.

As Beverly Kindle-Walker, a child care provider from Detroit explains: "Child care providers love and understand the importance of the work we do. But it is so hard to stay in this kind of work and make ends meet. I think now we'll have real power to improve that situation, and that's going to be good for everyone."

Beverly is right. It's not just providers who will benefit. Just as the rise of unions in the 20th Century benefited the entire country, so too will CCPTM benefit the entire state of Michigan. CCPTM will provide an opportunity for child care providers to get better training and stay in the industry. That means improved, affordable child care for working parents who rarely catch a break.

And those who support Michigan's economic development should also be excited about this major organizing success. Studies show that for every dollar invested in early child care and education, the broader community receives $17 in benefits. That's a big reason why Governor Jennifer Granholm, a longtime anti-poverty advocate, supported the creation of CCPTM.

It's easy to take for granted how far we've come in this country - the deplorable working conditions of a century ago are unimaginable now. But we must always remember that for all our success, millions of Americans still live in poverty - even though they work go to work every day, sometimes to two or three jobs. And now, as then, labor unions are at the frontlines of alleviating this undesirable and detrimental condition.

Of course there are many other fights in which today's labor movement is engaged, from health care for all to stopping the outsourcing of good American jobs. But those are for other posts.

For now, I'm pleased to note that 40,000 Michiganders have just joined a huge and growing drive to organize child care providers in states across the country, including Oregon, Wisconsin and Iowa. The labor movement is once again helping to break the cycle of poverty - all to the benefit of the larger community, particularly children in poor families. It's big news for little kids.