As a strong advocate for improved early learning and at risk youth, Rep. Eric Pettigrew (D-Seattle) remains persistent in his effort to increase access to high quality education for all children.
Pettigrew’s House Bill 1329, which provides collective bargaining rights for child care workers and directors under the Public Employees’ Collective Bargaining Act, passed the House Wednesday, 62 to 35.
“This bill closes the gap between what the state provides in dollars and what high quality education actually costs,” Pettigrew said. Low wages and lack of training persist among child care centers statewide. Pettigrew said that the state has helped low-income families pay for child care for a number of years, but the cost of that care is much higher than the reimbursement rate. For child care centers with high percentages of subsidy recipients, surviving can be near impossible.
“My motivation for sponsoring this bill is about one thing -- increasing opportunities for our children,” Pettigrew said.
Pettigrew’s HB 1329 requires the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to adjust subsidy rates for all child care centers in a DSHS region in order to match the rates reached through collective bargaining agreements for the same region. This means that even facilities that don’t participate in collective bargaining negotiations will benefit from negotiated increased subsidy rates.
“If we want to invest in our children, we must invest in early learning, and that’s exactly what this bill does,” Pettigrew said.
Pettigrew’s House Bill 1329, which provides collective bargaining rights for child care workers and directors under the Public Employees’ Collective Bargaining Act, passed the House Wednesday, 62 to 35.
“This bill closes the gap between what the state provides in dollars and what high quality education actually costs,” Pettigrew said. Low wages and lack of training persist among child care centers statewide. Pettigrew said that the state has helped low-income families pay for child care for a number of years, but the cost of that care is much higher than the reimbursement rate. For child care centers with high percentages of subsidy recipients, surviving can be near impossible.
“My motivation for sponsoring this bill is about one thing -- increasing opportunities for our children,” Pettigrew said.
Pettigrew’s HB 1329 requires the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to adjust subsidy rates for all child care centers in a DSHS region in order to match the rates reached through collective bargaining agreements for the same region. This means that even facilities that don’t participate in collective bargaining negotiations will benefit from negotiated increased subsidy rates.
“If we want to invest in our children, we must invest in early learning, and that’s exactly what this bill does,” Pettigrew said.
