Current Campaigns

Contract Negotiations -  Negotiations for the providers’ first contract are underway. At the opening round last month at OCFS offices in Manhattan, UFT President Randi Weingarten, representing providers, and OCF Assistant Commissioner Bill Gettman, representingthe state, discussed the need for higher pay, a more efficient payroll system and the need to simplify the complicated set of regulations governing provider working conditions. But getting that into contract form still has to be worked out.

Market Rate – Every two years the state is required to conduct a market rate survey. The survey results are used to determine the new OCFS market rate which is the highest rate that you can receive for subsidized children. The state will not pay higher rates than the private-pay rate you charge for your non-subsidized children. This year both the state and the city failed to allocate funds to cover the market rate increase. Providers are still being paid at 2005 rates. As part of our contract campaign, we hope to win additional funding to cover the market rate increase and to make the increase automatic whenever the market rate goes up.

Providers’ Choice – Family child care providers dig deep into our own pockets to provide the children we care for with supplies, new equipment, books and toys. UFT Providers campaigned to establish a program modeled after “Teachers Choice.” Teachers Choice is a City program that provides teachers in the public school system with a stipend to buy supplies. In June 2006, the New York City Council adopted a bill sponsored by Council member Bill DeBlasio that creates a pilot "Providers' Choice" program. The bill allocated $500,000 to provide providers with funds to purchase supplies and other items used in the care and education of the children they serve. Stay tuned to learn how the City will administer these funds. The 10,000 is more than triple the 3,300 providers in the lowest income areas of the city who received Providers Choice checks last year through a lottery. In 2007, all licensed providers, except those who receivedchecks last year but did not return receipts, received checks. Informal providers were chosen by lottery.

Making It Right – Providers are often owed back pay. Yet the City moves slowly in solving these problems. The UFT is assisting family child care providers with back pay grievances. If you think you’re owed money by the ACS or network, contact UFT Providers. We’ll try to help. And it can be done. To date, we have won over $295,000 in back pay for 165 providers! One case brought a provider $32,000!