UAW And AFSCME Add 40,000 New Union Members In Michigan

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/4867

UAW And AFSCME Add 40,000 New Union Members In Michigan

By Doug Cunningham

The United Auto Workers and AFSCME have organized 40,000 Michigan home child care workers in a joint venture called Child Care Providers Together Michigan. Bargaining for a first contract starts soon with the state. Alice Norris is a home child care worker in Detroit making $1.88 per hour per child with no health benefits.

: “It's just so awesome to have the union, just knowing that you have somebody responsible and capable of being on your side and working with you and for you. That's awesome!"

Better pay and benefits will be sought by the unions as the first contract is negotiated. The workers won union representation through a card check majority certification process.

: “Having the union is almost like not having food on your table and finally someone has brought groceries."

These 40,000 new union members in Michigan are not state employees, but they are paid through state and federal funds. The Michigan organizing drive is part of a national labor movement effort that has recently formed unions for child care workers in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin.

AUDIO story: http://www.laborradio.org/files/lo/winsheadlines.ram

Please note that this story is not copyrighted.

[CharmCity]

1. Fabulous news!

God bless AFSCME, the UAW and their organizers!!! They've been beaten up by this Administration for years and they keep plugging away. Organizing is really hard work; awesome to hear such great news.