History

 CSEA/VOICE History

This is the first of many chapters in our CSEA/VOICE story. As we build our membership, we secure what we’ve accomplished and build power to reach the vision we hold for family child care, children, families and our communities across New York.

2002

In 2002, a group of us from Schenectady approached CSEA to ask for help. For years, family and group family providers worked individually and in groups to address challenges we faced including insurance, funding for subsidies and timely, accurate DSS payments, and the OCFS website.

As an association, we knew the work we did made a difference. We also knew that with more “umph”, we’d get more done. We began to think that maybe it was time to form a union for family child care providers. CSEA knew about organizing for power. We knew about family child care. We were hopeful that partnering with CSEA to build a union specially designed for family child care providers would get us further in our work to get the rights, recognition and respect we deserve.

In 2003 we launched the Voice of Organized Independent Childcare Educators (VOICE) under the umbrella of CSEA. We took our campaign to get rid of the “Scarlet Letter” statewide.

2003

2005

Our VOICE Leadership Summit of 2005 kicked off our 18 month “3 Rs” campaign focusing on RIGHTS, RECOGNITION, and RESPECT. We talked to thousands of providers in their homes and at local meetings, laying the foundation for our union. In every county, we discovered we faced common challenges: contradictory regulations that didn’t always make sense; inconsistent enforcement of regulations and rules; burdensome paperwork; inadequate, inaccurate and untimely DSS reimbursements; and a need for better access to quality, affordable training and professional development.

Before we could sit down to negotiate with OCFS and the Governor, we had to pass a law to gain the right for family child care providers to collectively bargain as a union.

In 2006, CSEA/VOICE and the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) introduced legislation giving child care providers the right to form a union and to collective bargaining with New York State and OCFS. The Senate and Assembly passed it. Governor Pataki vetoed the bill. This was a minor setback.

2006

2007

On May 11, 2007, Governor Elliot Spitzer issued an Executive Order granting child care providers the right to form a union and collective bargaining – a historic day for CSEA/VOICE and providers across the state.

While we were working to gain collective bargaining rights and negotiate our first contract, we launched other successful campaigns:

  • A statewide petition campaign to get the Medication Administration Training deadline extended.
  • Passage of the addendum to Social Service Law 390 prohibiting the classification of family/group family homes as commercial enterprises subject to much higher commercial tax rates.
  • Market rate increases in Erie County where less than the market rate was being paid.
  • Restoration of subsidy funds after they were cut in Erie County.
  • Stopped legislation that would have allowed local governments to impose zoning and other regulations contrary to Social Service Law 390.

Right on time, exactly 18 months after adopting the “3 Rs” campaign plan, CSEA/VOICE was recognized as the union for family and group family providers in New York (outside NYC). In surveys, house calls, and at regional meetings attended by hundreds of providers across the state, family and group family child care providers identified the challenges most important to tackle first. Our negotiating team used this information to develop our first contract proposals.

On February 9, 2008, over 20 of us sat down with the Office of Children and Family Services to begin negotiating our first contract. Following several meetings with OCFS, the Governor’s Office, and the Department of Health, we negotiated a tentative agreement that our members voted to ratify on February 8, 2010.

Do you remember the red “YES” that made every violation posted on the website appear serious whether it was or not? It is gone now. Just one of many improvements we achieved in our first agreement. Our agreement also includes:

  • Holding the 75th percentile reimbursement rate.
  • A significant upgrade to subsidy payment systems across the state.
  • Program grants.
  • Seed money to launch a professional development fund.
  • Family Health Plus eligibility expansion.
  • The right to union assistance with inspections and payments.
  • Guiding Principles—essentially a Provider Bill of Rights.
  • On-going regulation and insurance workgroups.
  • OCFS website changes.
  • Adult-child ratio changes and extended licensing renewal period

In addition to contract negotiations, we work to raise the awareness of our local, state and federal lawmakers about the value of the work we do and the challenges we face. We engaged in: 

  • Federal initiatives to expand and secure funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant and to improve the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
  • State and county initiatives to secure dollars dedicated to funding child care

This is the first of many chapters in our VOICE story. As we build our membership, we secure what we’ve accomplished and continued to build power to reach the vision we hold for family child care, children, families and our communities across New York.

2008 – 2010

2010 – 2024

In 2011, CSEA passed legislation to make adult-child RATIOS more flexible for providers and families, expanding earning potential by $7,000 to $15,000 annually.

In 2020 we worked with NYS to stabilize childcare and provide support for providers.

We successfully advocated for raising subsidy reimbursement rates to the 80th percentile of the market rate resulting in a nearly 50 percent increase for most home-based providers.

In 2022 we advocated for and WON DIRECT DEPOSIT for subsidy payments, continuing our work with county DSS agencies across the state to make payments more timely and accurate.

We negotiated and ratified our fourth union agreement with OCFS and NYS. Read about our contract here: http://10.1.10.139/our-contracts/

In 2023, we launched AllyHealth Comprehensive Virtual Care Telemedicine Plan provides unlimited access to U.S. Board Certified Doctors and Pediatricians 24/7/365 by phone, video or mobile app, providing you and your household with convenient and unlimited access to quality healthcare with ZERO copays. Providers: go to AllyHealth.net/voice today to activate your account.

We also advocated for and won up to 80 absences (location dependent) and lower parent fees.

We successfully advocated for and assisted with implementation of the Desert Grant, Stabilization Grant and Work Force Retention Grants resulting in millions of dollars in support making its way to providers preventing catastrophic deserts and reviving areas that were hit the hardest during the pandemic.