Child Care & Early Education
Massachusetts family child care providers and early childhood educators have united in SEIU to:
- Help Massachusetts families access quality child care
- Recruit and retain a stable workforce of family child care providers that children and families can depend on
- Enhance the quality of family child care by providing support and incentives for further education and training
- Give Massachusetts family child care providers a voice in improving the early education and care system.
Resources and Links for Child Care Providers:
- Online Membership Form | Solicitud de Membresía en Línea
- SEIU Family Child Care Contract | SEIU Contrato de Cuidado Infantil Familiar
- SEIU Family Child Care Rate Chart
- SEIU Family Child Care Facebook Page
- Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (DEEC)
- Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS)
- QRIS Standards
- QRIS Online Course(el curso en Español) (Hosted by Wheelock College)
Local Union Representatives
William Cano | wcano@seiu509.org | 617-584-1222
Western MA, Central MA and Merrimack Valley (including Lawrence, Lowell, Haverhill)
Ninfa Breton | nbreton@seiu509.org | 617-312-8195
Greater Boston (including East Boston, Malden, Everett, Chelsea), Southern MA and North Shore (including Lynn, Revere, Gloucester, Salem)
RSVP for the 2017 Local 509 Annual Meeting: October 14!
Mark your calendar for the 2017 SEIU Local 509 Annual Meeting – coming up Saturday, October 14 in Westborough.
Join us at the 2017 Annual Meeting as we celebrate these important wins, learn about the challenges ahead, and plot our course for the future:
- Hear how we are building our strength across Massachusetts
- Reconnect with union brothers & sisters and meet new colleagues working across the state in human services and education
- Learn more about our ‘Fair Share Amendment’ to raise funds earmarked for education and transportation
- Join the Fight for $15, Paid Family & Medical Leave and other efforts to improve working conditions for Bay State families
The 2017 Annual Meeting marks the first step in our union-wide leadership elections. (You can find a full list of offices open for nominations here.) Plus, we need your participation as we vote on 15 constitutional amendments.
Starting at 9 AM, the daylong meeting will be held Saturday, October 14 at the DoubleTree Hotel — located at 5400 Computer Drive in Westborough.
Click here to sign up online — or call the Local 509 headquarters at (774) 843-7509. Please let us know if you require child care, have dietary restrictions, or need any other special accommodations.
We have a great deal to be proud of at Local 509, and an incredibly bright future ahead. Please join us October 14 as we set the agenda for the months to come! Until then, read about an exciting year for our union, with a promising string of victories in our new organizing efforts, contract negotiations, and on the broader public policy front in our latest edition of 509 NEWS:
Family Child Care President Celina Reyes in the Boston Globe
The President of Local 509’s Family Child Care chapter, Celina Reyes, wrote a letter to the editor that was featured in the Boston Globe this week. In the letter, Celina responds to a recent story highlighting the child care affordability crisis in the Commonwealth, and notes that family child care providers themselves often struggle to make ends meet. Our recent contract win with EEC to raise rates for providers is a key step toward making sure taking care of the Commonwealth’s neediest children can be a sustainable career. As Celina writes:
That’s why I fought through my union, SEIU Local 509, for a contract with the Department of Early Education and Care that raises these rates; our members just overwhelmingly ratified the historic agreement. It’s just a first step, but a momentous one, as it will get us closer to ending the tension between our need to care for our own families and our work caring for the Commonwealth’s neediest children.
Click here to read the full letter.
SEIU 509 State House Alert: 509 Members Speak Out for Educational Opportunity for All
509 educators testifying today in favor of expanding access to early childhood and higher education
BOSTON, MA – Educators and members of SEIU Local 509, the Bay State union for human service workers and educators, are on Beacon Hill today to show support for An Act to Support Educational Opportunity for All during today’s hearing by the Joint Committee on Revenue. The bill would provide much-needed funds to expand access to early childhood education and enable more young people to pursue higher education — both critical priorities for the Commonwealth’s continued economic growth and prosperity.
In order to fund these critical investments in education, the bill includes a modest 2.5 percent duty on private college and university endowments with over $1 billion in assets under management. Nonprofit private colleges and universities are not currently required to pay local, state, or federal taxes on their endowment funds. The excise — which would only impact a handful of the Commonwealth’s richest institutions — would create a new Educational Opportunity for All Trust to help defray the cost of higher education, early education, and child care for lower-income and middle-class residents of the Commonwealth.
“As an early childhood educator, I know firsthand that we badly need to invest more in the Commonwealth’s youngest children during the influential, early years of their education,” said Marites MacLean, a member of SEIU 509 who operates a family child care center in Fitchburg. “But more than that, I see that when we are able to help working class families access child care, it allows them to attend school and work themselves and further contribute to our economy and society.”
“There is overwhelming evidence that we need to invest more in both early education and higher education, but too often these investments are forgone due to scarce budgets and competing priorities,” said Tyler O’Day, a graduating senior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. “Asking the wealthiest institutions to contribute a modest amount toward expanding access to higher education is a commonsense way to make sure all students can access the kind of world class education I’ve been lucky enough to pursue.”
MacLean and O’Day joined leaders from the Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts (PHENOM) to share their expertise and testify in front of the Joint Committee on Revenue in favor of the bill. SEIU Local 509 regularly empowers its diverse, statewide membership to speak out in favor of key legislation that impacts their day to day work as educators and human service workers. Last month, Local 509 held its largest-ever Lobby Day at the State House, where union members spoke with their elected officials about the issues facing them as they educate and care for the Commonwealth’s students and most vulnerable populations.
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SEIU Local 509 represents nearly 20,000 human service workers and educators throughout the Commonwealth. SEIU 509 members provide a variety of social services to elders, at-risk children and people with mental illnesses or developmental disabilities — as well as educational opportunities from early learning to higher education. Local 509 is part of the Service Employees International Union, the fastest-growing labor union in the United States.
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR NEW CONTRACT? JOIN US AT OUR REGIONAL MEETINGS FOR ALL FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS!
Springfield:
April 20, 2017 starting at 6:00pm -8:00pm
SEIU Local 509 office: 1275 Elm Street, Suite C, West Springfield MA 01089
Lawrence:
April 26, 2017 starting at 6:00pm- 8:00pm
SEIU Community Action office: 11 Lawrence Street, Lawrence MA 01840
Worcester:
April 27, 2017 starting at 6:00pm-8:00pm
829 Main Street. Worcester MA 01610
Parking available in the back of the church. (Rock-Salvation Pentecostal)
Brockton:
April 20, 2017 starting at 6:00pm- 7:30pm
Brockton Public Library, East Branch: 54 Kingman Street Brockton MA 02302
Lynn:
April 27, 2017 starting at 6:00pm- 7:30pm
IUE-CWA Local 201, Union Hall, 112 Exchange St. Lynn MA 01901
Boston:
April 28, 2017 starting at 6:00pm- 7:30pm
Nate Smith House, 115 Lamartin St. Jamaica Plain MA 02130
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Big Wins in Settlement between SEIU local 509 and EEC for Family Child Care Providers
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In recent contract negotiations, members have won the following improvements:
Rate Increases:
- Effective 7/1/16 FCC Provider Rates will be increased by 3.6%
(Retroactive payment will be made FCC Providers following execution of his agreement.)
- Effective 7/1/17 FCC Provider Rates will be increased by 6%.
- Effective 7/1/18 FCC Provider Rates will be increased by 3.93%.
- An additional average increase of 16.25% will go to increase the rates for all children under 2 years of age.
- EEC shall sustain the rate increase that is currently in place for QRIS level 2 providers.
Sick Time:
- 40 hours of Earned Sick Time can now be used for: vacation, bereavement and personal leave, at your option.
Professional Development:
- Starting in July 2018 EEC will commit $100,000 annually to a training fund for providers. This fund will be jointly administered by our union and EEC. (This will allow providers to help design trainings that meet their needs and the needs of your kids and families.)
Communication:
- Improved new union orientation language for providers.
- Clearer language on what can and cannot be grieved in the contract.
Transportation:
- Providers will be included in a new study to improve transportation services.
Representation:
- Increased provider representation on the state wide advisory board.
Within the next week we will conduct the contract ratification. Stay tuned for more information!
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Ficha de datos: Sobre nuestro nuevo contrato de unión entre SEIU local 509 y EEC para los educadores de cuidado infantil
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Aumentos a su pago:
- Desde el 1 de julio del 2016, todos los pagos van a incrementar a 3.6%
- Comenzando el 1 de julio del 2017, todos los pagos van a incrementar a 6.0%
- Comenzando el 1 de julio del 2018, todos los pagos van a incrementar a 3.93%
- Hay un incremento promedio adicional de 16.25% para todos los niños bajo 2 años de edad.
EEC va a sostener el incremento de pago que actualmente está para los proveedores de nivel 2 en QRIS.
Tiempo de enfermedad:
- 40 horas de tiempo de enfermedad ganado ahora se pueden usar para: vacaciones, luto, y tiempo personal a su opción.
Desarrollo Professional:
- Comenzando en Julio de 2018 EEC se comprometerá a $100,000 anual a un fondo de entrenamientos para los educadores. Este fondo va hacer administrado por nuestra unión y EEC. (Esto le dará la oportunidad a los educadores a que nos ayuden desarrollar entrenamientos que realmente los ayudan y quieren para sus niños y las familias a quienes sirven.)
Comunicación:
- Un nuevo lenguaje mejorado de unión para la orientación de los educadores.
- Lenguaje más claro en lo que se puede y no se puede quejar en un contrato.
Transportación:
- Mejor representación de proveedores en la junta estatal.
¡Entre esta semana vamos a conducir nuestra ratificación de contrato. ¡Quedense sintonisados para mas información!
Puestos de Liderazgo Vacantes – Septiembre de 2017
PUESTOS VACANTES fueron publicados el 16 de agosto de 2017; nominaciones serán aceptadas hasta el lunes, 14 de octubre
A continuación hay una lista de las vacantes a la Junta Ejecutiva Unida (JEB por sus siglas en inglés) de SEIU 509 y a la Junta Ejecutiva del Capítulo (CEB por sus siglas en inglés). Si usted está interesado en una candidatura a uno de estos puestos, por favor siga las siguientes instrucciones:
Solamente miembros en regla son elegibles para ser nominados. Los miembros pueden nominarse a sí mismos o ser nominados por sus socios en SEIU 509 . El miembro de haciendola también tiene que ser un miembro en regla.
Remita nominaciones para las vacantes por escrito a Jenny Bauer en la oficina de la unión, vía fax (508-485-8529), email (jbauer@seiu509.org), o correo US (293 Boston Post Road West, Marlborough, MA 01752).
Para ver el documento en pantalla completa, haga clic aquí.
Otra vez, las nominaciones deben ser entregados antes del sabado, 14 de octubre.
Los nominados que no tengan oposición, serán declarados electos en esa fecha. Si hay puestos con competencia, la fecha de elección será anunciada y los candidatos serán notificados.
Union Leadership Opportunities – September
Para leer más información en español, haga clic aquí.
VACANCIES were published on September 14, 2017; nominations will be accepted until Saturday, October 14.
Below you will find the list of opportunities to serve on the SEIU 509 Joint Executive Board (JEB) and Chapter Executive Boards (CEBs). If you are interested in running for a seat — or nominating a colleague — please follow these instructions:
Only members in good standing are eligible for nomination. Members may nominate themselves or be nominated by fellow SEIU 509 members. The member doing the nominating also needs to be a member in good standing.
Submit nominations for vacancies in writing to Jenny Bauer in the union office by fax (508-485-8529), email (jbauer@seiu509.org) or US mail (293 Boston Post Road West, Marlborough, MA 01752 ).
To view the Leadership Vacancies document in full screen, click here.
Again, nominations are due Saturday, October 14.
Nominees who are unopposed shall be declared elected on that date. If offices are contested, election dates will be announced and candidates will be notified.
SEIU Local 509 Members at the State House: Lobby Day 2017 !
SEIU Local 509 Members at the State House for Lobby Day 2017
Day of action culminates with rally on State House steps with workers and allies from across SEIU Massachusetts
BOSTON, MA – Nearly 300 members of SEIU Local 509 headed to Beacon Hill on Wednesday April 12th in a show of solidarity for critical legislation impacting human service workers and educators across the Commonwealth. From state employees, to private sector human services workers, family child care providers, university faculty, and mental health clinicians, SEIU 509 members united to advocate for measures that will improve the quality of education and care for the populations they serve.
“At SEIU 509, our unity is in our diversity – of our membership, and the people we serve,” said Peter MacKinnon, President of SEIU Local 509. “SEIU 509 members are meeting with their elected officials to tell their stories and push for several important bills that will improve their ability to serve some of the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable. Though our membership is advocating for a variety of needed legislation, we are united in serving the children, students, people with disabilities, and underserved populations we support every day.”
Bills SEIU Local 509 members called for include:
- Ensuring address protection for Department of Children & Families social workers: HB 2803 is commonsense legislation that would ensure DCF social workers’ home addresses are not released to the public in the course of doing their job.
- Increasing the minimum wage to $15/hour for private human services workers: No one who works full-time should struggle to make ends meet. HB 3152 would help bring private sector human service workers closer to a living wage and ensure that talented, caring workers can stay in the profession.
- Addressing caseloads at the Department of Transitional Assistance: Caseworkers at DTA work every day to help vulnerable families reach self-sustaining futures, but they are chronically understaffed – making it impossible to provide this support while being effective stewards of taxpayer funds. An increase to the DTA caseworker line-item in the budget would help bring caseloads to a responsible level.
- Ensuring fair wages and job stability for adjunct faculty: Private colleges and universities are increasingly relying on adjunct faculty to perform the same teaching duties as their full-time counterparts for significantly lower pay and benefits. This is compounded by a lack of job security most adjuncts face. HB 2236 seeks to address each of these issues.
Following meetings with legislators and staff, SEIU Local 509 members joined members of SEIU Locals 1199, 32BJ, and 888 to rally against the extreme federal agenda. The rally took place at at 2:00pm on April 12, 2017 by the State House Steps.
Washington Post | Nobel Prize winner says public preschool programs should start at birth
Early-childhood education programs that start at birth and care for children until age 5 have a greater economic benefit to society than preschool programs that start later, according to a new study.
Nobel Prize winner James Heckman’s research has played an important role in establishing that high-quality public preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds can more than pay for itself over the long term, as low-income children who attend are more likely to live productive lives. It’s an economic argument that has persuaded lawmakers from both parties to support early education initiatives.
Now Heckman has released new research showing that the return on investment is even higher for high-quality programs that care for low-income children from infancy to age 5. Children in such zero-to-five programs are more likely to graduate from high school, less likely to be incarcerated than their counterparts who stayed home or enrolled in low-quality programs, had higher IQs and were healthier during the course of their lives, according to the study released Monday.
All of that taken together leads to a significant savings to society, the study found. The rate of return on the public investment in zero-to-five programs is 13 percent per year, Heckman and his colleagues estimate, up from an estimate of 7 percent to 10 percent per year for preschool programs that start at age 3.
The more comprehensive zero-to-five programs cost about $18,500 per year for each child enrolled — more than the average public school district spends per pupil in grades K through 12. But for every dollar invested, the program generated a societal benefit of $6.30, according to Heckman.
He said the findings suggest that policymakers could make a bigger difference in the lives of poor children with early-childhood education programs that begin far earlier in their lives, when children are just eight weeks old.
“As an economist, I always find it very odd that people only focus on the costs of a program rather than the benefits,” Heckman said. “This is very strong evidence for supporting this kind of program going forward.”
Read the full story in the Washington Post.
SEIU’s Henry: Trump Dept of Labor nominee Puzder dead wrong for America’s working families
Mary Kay Henry, SEIU President
WASHINGTON—SEIU International President Mary Kay Henry issued the following statement on President-elect Trump’s intended nomination of Andrew Puzder, chief executive of CKE Restaurants, to be Secretary of Labor:
“With the intended nomination of Andrew Puzder for Secretary of Labor, President-elect Trump has once again shown how out-of-touch he is with what working Americans need. Working families, including those who elected him, issued a mandate for economic change because they are sick and tired of working longer and harder than ever but still struggling to build a better future for their families. Puzder has proven he doesn’t support working people: he opposes raises to the minimum wage, even though every time Americans have been called to vote for raises on the ballot, they always do.
“Throughout his career, Andrew Puzder has shown he does not believe in the dignity of all work and has used his position to line his own pockets at the expense of workers. In 2012, Puzder made $4.4 million, a full 291 times more than the average food worker. He doesn’t support measures that would help families who work hard build a better life, such as the overtime rule, which would put more money in the pockets of millions of workers for the extra work they do. He wants machines to replace workers because robots ‘never take a vacation’ – even though robots can not ever replace the work that people do. He has stood with Republican congressional leaders who want to repeal the Affordable Care Act – even though his underpaid workers and millions of working Americans depend on it for healthcare.
“Working Americans aren’t fooled by the anti-worker Trump-Puzder vision for America. They know it threatens their ability to have a voice and to provide for their families. That is why millions of American workers continue to come together through the Fight for $15 movement to make President-elect Trump and his administration deal with our economic reality. Together, workers in the Fight for $15 movement have made the kind of economic change America is crying out for by paving the way for 20 million people to get a raise. SEIU members will not back down, we will stay in the streets to fight back against anti-worker extremism and we will not stop until all work in valued and every community in America has the opportunity to thrive.”
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CONGRATS to our new leadership team!
The results are in! With all votes tallied, SEIU Local 509 members have elected our next leadership team. Peter MacKinnon will serve as president of our union, alongside Israel Pierre as our treasurer and Ivette Hernandez as our recording secretary. (See below for more details about our many election results.)
Local 509 takes pride in our long-held reputation as a thoroughly democratic union. All members are encouraged to participate by supporting candidates of your choice, submitting amendment proposals, nominating colleagues for leadership positions or running for office yourself.
Nominations for these leadership positions were accepted on October 15 as a record number of human service workers and educators gathered in Westborough for the Local 509 Annual Meeting. In that gathering, we learned more about how we’re building our strength across Massachusetts, met with some of the Commonwealth’s leading elected officials. Dozens of us also stepped up to take action in support of the Fair Share Amendment, Fight for $15, and a host of other important causes.
It has been an exciting year for our union, with a promising string of victories in our new organizing efforts, contract negotiations and on the broader public policy front. We look forward to seeing how these leaders will build on recent organizing and contract victories to set a future course for our union and the communities we serve.
Congratulations to our newly elected leadership team!
Candidates will officially be sworn into office at our December 13th JEB meeting held at our union headquarters.
Click here to for a summary of votes cast in contested races.
Click here for the 2016 Election Guide (PDF).
Click here to full screen the detailed spreadsheet below (Google Spreadsheet).