June 11, 2007

Contact: Rebekah Orr, 503-986-1904

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

House Supports Child Care Workers’ Rights to Collective Bargaining

Workers’ Bill Clears House With Broad Bipartisan Support

SALEM—The Oregon House today gave broad bipartisan approval to a bill giving child care providers in Oregon the right to collectively bargain with the State of Oregon.

“Today, with this bill, we support an industry that supplies 52,000 Oregon jobs, $6 billion in sales and $2 billion in income annually,” said State Representative Tina Kotek (D-N/NE Portland).   “With this vote we’ve given Oregon’s child care providers a powerful voice to shape what we do in this state for our children.”

Advocates say the bill is needed because more than 164,000 Oregon children are placed in paid child care while their parents work or attend school. Child care providers, however, are often paid low wages with little to no benefits—a reality can compromise the quality and consistency of child care in Oregon.

“Oregon’s working parents can only provide employers with their best when they are assured that their children are safe and secure when they are away,” said State Representative Debby Boone (D-Cannon Beach). “This bill is one of the most important things we can do this session that’s good for our kids and good for our economy.”

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