Media Advisory for Monday, May 8, 2023

Contact: Maya Polon, (818) 288-6231

ACROSS CALIFORNIA – Members of Child Care Providers United (CCPU) will join events on Monday, May 8, to demand urgent federal and state action to stabilize the essential childcare workforce. “Day Without Childcare” is a national recognition of the essential role of childcare for children, families and the economy, and a day when childcare providers, parents, and families are demanding a childcare system that is equitable, that provides living wages to child care providers, and that is affordable to families.

In California, women of color in particular have been shouldering the burden of a childcare system that is on the brink of collapse for too long. California child care providers who provide care subsidized by the state for low-wage working parents are being paid rates that cover just 25-30% of their current costs to provide quality care. The system is at a breaking point and so are providers.

Providers are fighting to keep their doors open and won’t close on Monday because they know how essential their care is for working parents to get to their jobs and to keep our economy running. However, they will acknowledge that for many California families, every day is a day without child care due to child care deserts, long waiting lists, and onerous rules for subsidized care.

More information on Day Without Child Care is available here.

On Day Without Child Care, SEIU Local 99-CCPU members took to social media to send a message to Governor Newsom.

Workers at Los Angeles Unified School District joined the nation on Day Without Child Care to support child care providers