Labor Leaders, Child Care Advocates, and Providers Come Together to Advance Universal Child Care in New York

On Tuesday, labor leaders, child care advocates, and providers gathered at the United Federation of Teachers for “The Labor Path to Universal Child Care,” a daylong convening focused on developing a shared labor strategy to advance universal child care in New York. More than 100 people attended the event, representing unions from across New York State, child care funds, academic institutions, and community-based organizations. The convening brought participants together to discuss what a universal child care system should look like, how to protect and support child care workers, and how the labor movement can help make that vision a reality.

The day's opening panel, "Solidarity in Care: Child Care as a Core Labor Issue," featured CLC Executive Board members Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union; Henry Garrido, Executive Director of DC 37; and Michael Mulgrew, President of the UFT, alongside NYC CLC President Brendan Griffith. The discussion was moderated by NYC CLC Secretary-Treasurer Janella T. Hinds, who also chairs the New York Union Child Care Coalition. Panelists discussed why affordable, accessible child care is a critical issue for working families and an important priority for the labor movement.

Throughout the day, additional panels explored child care policy and funding, fair compensation for providers, and successful union-negotiated child care programs. The event concluded with breakout discussions aimed at developing shared priorities and building a coordinated labor agenda for universal child care ahead of the 2027 New York State legislative session.

Interested in getting involved? Click here to join the New York Union Child Care Coalition and help us address the urgent need to change the workplace to reflect the realities of today's working families.