The last 24 hours still feel like a dream to me. I just posted a comment on the VTdigger.org article. I thought I would share my reflections with you as well. As leader of Vermonters For The Independence of Child Care Professionals, I would love to take a few moments to both congratulate the small business owning child care providers of Vermont who worked so very hard to get the vote out as well as answer some questions. I am a home childcare provider who works over 50 hours per week taking care of young children within my home, a job I absolutely love. I learned about the childcare union the same way many other providers learned about it- from an unsolicited home visit while I was working. I was intrigued, but not convinced. I spent time educating myself (someone who is typically a democrat and pro-union) on both sides of the argument and decided, for a number of reasons, that I was strongly against this bill. I went to work talking with my peers and over the course of three years and a LOT of hard work, built a very strong coalition of home childcare providers who felt the same way I did. We formed Facebook groups, created our website, and contacted our elected officials. We met after working 10-hour days to strategize. We asked hard questions, testified, wrote letters to the editor and did radio interviews. All of this was accomplished with zero outside money, nor did I receive any compensation for my time. In fact, I lost quite a bit of my money paying for a substitute for when I traveled to Montpelier to testify. But I did it out of a passion for my profession. A very small donation was received once the bill was signed to help get the vote out- and that is exactly what we did. The ballot return rate was over 60%, and we accomplished something no other state has been able to. We were the first state to not vote a union in once a bill was signed into law. This “job” at times was a second full time job. It robbed me of time with my own children, money from my personal bank account, and sleep at night. It put me in the limelight, which allowed others not familiar with this fight or myself to question my integrity and honesty. But the joy I felt from watching other providers across the state, often isolated, become empowered to find their voice and use it was far greater than anything I may have lost. I am so incredibly proud of the blood, sweat and tears the small business owning childcare providers across Vermont put into this fight and I cannot thank them enough for their work. I may have been the leader, but it takes a village, and our village proved we are a force to be reckoned with. The legislature wanted the providers to have the opportunity to vote and speak their voice. Once again they have spoken loudly and clearly. Thankfully this time we will be listened to. And when the AFT submits yet another petition to represent those who have stated they do not want or need representation, we will converge again to win.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Dec 2014 18:30:36 +0000