Our Contract

Tentative Agreement reached with OCFS/NYS for 5th Union Contract

CSEA /VOICE Local 100A members were asked by OCFS and New York State to begin contract negotiations in the early Spring 2025. Our previous contract four-year contract (2021-2025) expired in September 2025. Many of the benefits we enjoy as members, are negotiated in our union contract.

In October 2026, our union reached a tentative agreement with OCFS, securing and improving the continued benefits that support educators, children, and families. 

This agreement will be voted on by members in good standing in November 2026.

We must remember:

NOTHING IS A GIVEN.

WE MUST FIGHT TO RETAIN WHAT WE HAVE WON IN THE PAST!

 

Our Union is STRONG!

 

Since organizing in 2007, we’ve built a strong union that supports child care providers to deliver early learning and care to thousands of children and families across the state. We’ve taken action and accomplished many of the goals set by our members at regional, statewide, and chapter levels.

 

In our 5th contract, we fought to retain everything we have won and increased benefits: 

  • $2 million in a retirement fund annually starting in 2027 alongside the creation of a committee to conduct a study and advise on retirement benefits that have an immediate impact on educators.
  • Increasing funding for professional development.
  • Increased funds for Quality Grants, including funding for a dual language program award.
  • Direct pay from OCFS to educators where possible.
  • Continued funds for health insurance rebates, vision and dental coverage, and telemedicine benefit to educators and household members.
  • Process to improving access to retirement benefits for educators in this legislative cycle.
  • A mentorship program for Legally Exempt Child Care educators.
  • Opportunities to better emergency preparedness recourses and procedures.
  • An opt-out option to publicly accessible contact information on state website.
    Click her for a summary sheet on the 2026 Contract

    CSEA/VOICE representatives and advocates shared the importance of this ratio change at a 2025 press conference in Rochester.

    Our CSEA VOICE team stands outside NYS OCFS after our last successful contract negotiation.

    Rallying for educators on the steps of the Capitol.

    Early Learning & Care Rep. Nikki Johnson advocates at the statewide level.

    We have negotiated and retained in our last contract:

    • 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. Go to AllyHealth.net/voice today to activate your account. 
    • Health Insurance Rebate Program provides a rebate of up to $3,000 to assist with the cost of purchasing health coverage under the NY State of Health Marketplace. 
    • Vision/dental insurance at no-cost for providers. (Family coverage is accessed as a member-only benefit.) 
    • Professional Development — including First Aid/CPR; CDA; ECE Tuition Assistance; on-going OCFS approved training to meet requirements; Legally-Exempt “Enhanced Rate” training; includingtraining opportunities for assistants.
    • $500 Quality program grants available to registered family, licensed group family, and enrolled legally-exempt providers who get 10 hours training and are certified to receive an “enhanced” rate. 
    • Secured Infant/Toddler reimbursement rates through age two (instead of 18 months).
    • Secured mandatory minimum 5% rate differential for non-traditional hour care.
    • Implemented a Fair Dispute Resolution Process for Payments and Inspections.
    • Established a professional development fund for family child care including training opportunities for assistants.
    • Partnered with OCFS to develop Legally-Exempt Enhanced Rate Training curriculum and program.
    • Secured Guiding Principles (Provider Rights) to get the respect we deserve.
    team

    Because we have a strong base of dues paying members, CSEA has a robust program to support our members and providers across the state. CSEA/VOICE:

     

    • Established the first bilingual statewide family child care resource center to assist with registration, licensing, enrollment, and inspections; DSS payments; fraud investigations and training; CACFP, and professional development.
    • Assists with CPS, fair hearings, OCFS license, registration, and enrollment enforcement procedures and zoning issues.
    • Passed legislation to make adult-child ratios more flexible for providers and families. With new ratios, family child care businesses gained the potential to increase earnings as much as $15,000 per year.
    • Successfully made provider payments more accurate and timely in more than a dozen counties across the state.

     

    Join the FIGHT!

    CSEA/VOICE is always advocating for providers to have sustainable businesses and benefits that make life easier for us.

    It is our membership that makes us powerful.


    If you know someone who is not a member, we encourage you to help them join to make us even more powerful. They can sign up online at voicecsea.org. If you or they need further information, you can call our toll free Resource Center at 877-483-2732 or email voice@cseainc.org.

    We also advocated for and helped pass:

    • Pay for a statewide minimum of 24 child absences  with a statewide maximum of up to 80 child absences per year.
    • 12-month eligibility determinations for parents.
    • Limiting family copayments to a maximum of 1%  statewide
    • $343 million available for a second round of stabilization grants, of which at least 75% of which must be used for workforce initiatives ($257,250,000)
    • Expands childcare subsidy eligibility for children in families with incomes up to 300% of the state income standard, provided they are at or below 85% of the federal poverty level ($83,250 for a family of four).
    • Expands childcare facilitated enrollment to Nassau and Suffolk Counties, in addition to existing programs.

    How can we help?

    Our contract is a product of conversations among providers for more than 20 years. It represents a small part of our program which educates and empowers providers to be the best we can be for the children and families we serve.
    We want to hear from you.
    877-483-2732