Workers Testify in Support of Bill to Make Childcare More Affordable

PHOTO: Kevin Ready (APWU 458) talks about his own family’s struggles find affordable child care at press conference last week.

On Wednesday, the Maine AFL-CIO testified in support of two state legislative bills that would make child care more affordable for working class people. LD 2066, “An Act to Establish the Child Care Employment Award,” sponsored by Sen. Henry Ingwersen (D-York) would make child care more affordable for child care workers and eliminate current waitlists.

We are also backing LD 1414, which improves reimbursement rates for childcare providers. It would also create a planning grant grant program to incentivize providers to provide child care between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.  

Our top organizational priority on child care this legislative session is for the supplemental budget to fund the Child Care Affordability Program and eliminate the waitlist. The supplemental budget needs $15 million to do so.  

Speaking at a press conference Wednesday, American Postal Workers Union Local 458 member Kevin Ready of Lewiston talked about his own family’s struggles find affordable child care. He noted that full-time child care can easily cost $15,000 a year, putting this essential service out of reach for many workers.

“A while back, when my family heard about the Child Care Affordability Program, we were so excited to apply,” said Ready. “I remember telling my co-workers about the program and hearing how big a difference it would make in their lives, too. But when the funding dried up and the waitlist was implemented, it was a gut punch. We felt like the rug was pulled out from us right when it seemed like things were going to get a little better. Without that support, our family couldn't afford to pay for child care which meant that my wife couldn't work. In the end, our family was worse off and struggling to pay the bills.”

“The lack of affordable and accessible child care is a huge problem for Maine working families,” said Adam Goode, Legislative and Political Director for the Maine AFL-CIO. “We have surveyed several hundred workers about the issues impacting their lives and child care continues to be one of the most important.”

Many workers are living paycheck to paycheck and cannot afford the high cost of care. Others face short-staffed shifts because people cannot stay in their jobs due to the availability of affordable child care. Still others are deciding not to have children because they cannot see a future with children in which they can make ends meet.