Editor’s note: This op-ed is written by Janette Dumont, a registered home child-care provider, in Ferrisburgh.
Last year, I was bombarded with phone calls and drop-in visits by representatives of the American Federation of Teachers as they tried to get me to join them in support of unionizing child-care providers in Vermont. So I did my research, spoke with other providers and concluded that a child-care union in Vermont is simply unnecessary.
The AFT is again out in full force to try and persuade our legislators to unionize private home child-care businesses.
Existing programs, including Vermont Stars, the Vermont Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, and Vermonters for the Independence of Child Care Professionals, have done very well with joining together, collecting information and presenting it to decision makers and administrative professionals.
I believe we already have tremendous free and direct access to our legislators and administrative professionals. My experience has been such that I can contact decision makers directly to discuss my concerns. Existing programs, including Vermont Stars, the Vermont Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, and Vermonters for the Independence of Child Care Professionals, have done very well with joining together, collecting information and presenting it to decision makers and administrative professionals. Their efforts have been very effective in keeping the needs and best interests of children at the forefront.
I believe unionizing will move control of my business and the development of children out of my hands and into the hands of others who have not considered the best interest of the children and families I provide for. Paying someone to represent me will divert money away from child care resulting in decreased potential for development in children and reducing access to affordable child care for families.
I am not anti-union or pro-union, I am pro-choice. I have many reservations of unionizing my business, but the most important reason I am hesitant to join a union would be the impact on children and families. If the AFT is successful in unionizing small home child-care providers, I will not have a choice but to pay and accept them as “my voice.” We need to remember that children are the first priority, and should always remain first priority.