SACRAMENTO, Calif. — With California’s new fiscal year starting July 1, child care providers are urging Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers to include a pay increase in the final budget, even as the state faces a multi-billion-dollar deficit.
Members of the Child Care Providers United union, which represents over 60,000 providers, are calling for long-overdue wage adjustments. Gov. Newsom’s May budget revision left out a rate bump, prompting hundreds of providers to rally in Sacramento.
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“We haven’t had a raise since 2018. It’s unacceptable,” said Sylvia Hernandez, a provider from Van Nuys who has worked in the field for 25 years. “We’re getting paid $5 to $7 an hour after covering employees, permits, and expenses — that’s below minimum wage.”
A California Department of Social Services report revealed that 73% of providers don’t pay themselves a salary, despite working an average of 64 hours a week. Still, many remain committed to their mission. “We do this because our community and children need us,” Hernandez said.
A UC Berkeley study shows that 71% of child care providers in California are women of color, amplifying concerns about equity and economic justice.
State Senator Monique Limón, who authored the 2019 bill that enabled unionization, expressed support but acknowledged budget constraints. “These are really tough times… but when we don’t win one year, we come back.”
On the other side, Republican Senator Roger Niello stressed the need to cut underperforming programs before approving new spending. “We need to be disciplined in evaluating rising expenses,” he said.
With the budget deadline looming, Hernandez fears many providers will be forced to shut down if no contract is signed. “It’s time for us to be paid a decent living wage,” she said.
Gov. Newsom’s office declined to comment, citing ongoing collective bargaining negotiations.
