More than 35,000 home child care providers and child care center teachers and staff are united in SEIU Child Care & Early Learning, a division of SEIU Healthcare Illinois & Indiana. Every day, we provide essential child care and early education that helps prepare young children for school and supports working parents. Whether we are a teacher in a pre-k classroom or Head Start classroom, a licensed home child care provider or a family, friend or neighbor caregiver, we all play an important role in young children’s care and early education.
Home child care providers first began building our union in 1996, when we struggled to get by on low rates and with no benefits. Illinois home child care providers were the first in the country to unite our voices in SEIU and since then we’ve negotiated two ground-breaking contracts for home child care providers in the Illinois Child Care Assistance Program– winning rate increases, rate add-ons for quality care and first-ever healthcare for thousands of Illinois child care providers.
Now center-based child care, Head Start and pre-Kindergarten workers– teachers, assistant teachers, family service workers, teacher aides, group workers, food aides, paraprofessionals and more—are uniting in SEIU for a stronger voice for quality care and early learning jobs.
Together, we’re fighting to make sure that all families have access to the quality, affordable care and education for their children and that caregivers and early childhood workers are recognized and respected for the important work we do.
CHICAGO—In a victory for workers, parents and children, child care workers have reached a three-year contract with the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago following a historic unfair labor practice strike on March 1st. The nearly 130 YMCA Early Childhood Education and …
Many home child care providers have contacted SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana with questions and concerns about mailings they have received from private companies regarding new mandates that certain licensed child care homes test their water for lead. Here’s What you …
CHICAGO–The following statement was released by SEIU Healthcare Illinois Executive Vice President Faith Arnold regarding the Primary Election Night victory of Lamont Robinson Jr. as the Democratic Party’s nominee for state representative of Chicago’s 5th House District: “Voters in …
Chicago- Today nearly 130 child care workers at 10 locations across Chicago went on strike at the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. Workers went on strike because of unfair labor practices committed by the YMCA, including intimidating workers who participated in …
MEDIA ADVISORY FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2018 Workers at 10 Chicago-area Y Locations Joined by Elected and Faith Leaders and Parents as They Hit the Picket Line CHICAGO—Nearly 130 child care workers with YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago will launch …
CHICAGO- Child care workers at the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago picketed in protest of poverty wages, understaffing, and disinvestment from vulnerable communities on Wednesday. They were joined by parents, community advocates and political leaders, including Cook County Commissioner Jesus …
CHICAGO—Child care workers will engage in a picket at the headquarters of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago this Wednesday, February 21st to protest poverty wages, understaffing and unfair labor practices. The picket will be followed by a press conference announcing …
SPRINGFIELD-Following is the response of SEIU Healthcare Illinois President Greg Kelley to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s FY 2019 Budget Address: “Gov. Bruce Rauner is probably best known for using the budget process to take Illinois hostage for his non-budgetary political demands. …
Will He Use Funds to Restore Program He Has Attacked? MEMO TO REPORTERS: The budget deal passed in Washington last week contains billions in significant new funding for child care, in the form of block grants. So what …
A delegation of Centers for New Horizons members delivered petitions to Centers For New Horizons Headquarters today, representing an overwhelming majority of their co-workers, who signed-on saying that SENIORITY MATTERS! Members want their dedication and service to Centers for New …
Lead, Fight, Win! All SEIU Healthcare members are invited to join us at the meeting happening in your area where we will discuss opportunities, challenges, and fights ahead in 2018. Now is the time to get excited and focused on …
Five potential Democratic nominees for Illinois governor came to our headquarters on Chicago’s South Side to answer questions and talk about their vision for Illinois future as it relates to our members in November. JB Pritzker, Chris Kennedy, Tio Hardiman, …
Child care providers and parents to speak out against Amazon incentives, demand child care for working families. CHICAGO–On November 1st, child care providers and parents will call out Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Governor Bruce Rauner’s decision to scrap social programs …
In another hit to working families, Governor’s Budget cuts $59.4 Million in funding for federally mandated Child Care Assistance Program extension despite legislature approval. In budget documents released Tuesday, Governor Rauner declared he would cut nearly $60 million for an …
After Closing Head Start Facilities in Chicago, YMCA Reneges on Promise of Severance Pay for Laid-Off Teachers Chicago: Laid-off YMCA Head Start teachers and teachers’ assistants will hold a press conference outside of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago Headquarters at …
For years we have been repeating “When We Fight, We Win.” This statement is absolutely true. We have been putting pressure on Governor Rauner all summer long to demand he stand up for child care. We have marched to …
CHICAGO-Following is the response of SEIU Healthcare Illinois Vice President Brynn Seibert to the breaking news the Rauner administration seeks to restore some eligibility to the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) after implementing disastrous cuts in 2015 that have left …
Over the years, many people have asked me: “how did you build the union from only 7 members in 1983, to representing over 90,000 today? How did you organize really low-wage workers like homecare and childcare providers, when no one …
But still moves back-door cuts to throw thousands of parents, children off the vital program On August 28th, Governor Bruce Rauner signed HB 3213/SB1705 which would restore access to the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) for families enrolled full-time in …
Child care providers, parents face looming crisis to Child Care Assistance Program which could leave thousands of children without care. On Tuesday, August 22, the House Human Services committee met to hold a Subject Matter Hearing surrounding a looming crisis in …
