AFSCME Iowa

Latest News:
White House to Propose Doubling Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit

Since its creation one year ago this week, the Middle Class Task Force has held 11 meetings around the country and at the White House. At these meetings, Vice President Biden heard from parents who were grappling with the costs of child care; students coming out of college drowning in debt; children of elderly relatives struggling to care for them; and workers who were barely able to pay their mortgage, much less save for retirement.

As a result of these meetings, conversations and feedback from around the country, the Vice President and the Task Force will propose several policy initiatives to help middle class families including:

1. - Nearly Doubling the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit for middle class families making under $85,000 a year. This is accomplished by increasing their tax credit rate from 20% to 35% of qualifying expenses. The value of the tax credit nearly doubles for all families making under $85,000 a year, and every family that makes under $115,000 will see their tax credit increase.

Additionally, for families struggling to join the middle class, the administration will provide a $1.6 billion increase in child care funding, the largest one-year increase in 20 years, to help an additional 235,000 children.

Council 61 Members Have Access To Affordable Health Insurance!

To find out more and download the flyer click here.

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AFSCME Child Care Membership Application here

More about AFSCME Child Care providers:

Our first MOU brings gains to child care providers:

In 2007, Iowa's 6,000 registered child care providers ratified a historic first agreement between Iowa AFSCME/Child Care Providers Together (CCPT) and the Department of Human Services that improved reimbursement rates and established new rights.

On Oct 1, 2008, we will receive the 2 percent raise we bargained in our Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU).

Through forming our union, we have won a "Bill of Rights" for child care providers that calls for uniformity and consistency in state policies, and declares that providers should be treated as professionals.

►Download the CCPT Local 1212 MOU

Members of the 2007 CCPT Bargaining Team:

Kathleen Brown
Larranie Murray
Kelly Thomas
Terry LaBelle
Jeff Dodds Jill Dodds
Matt Tapscott
JoAnn Lewis
Deb Cohen
Jodi Fiscus Jen Benson
Della Mull
Kim Fisch
Latonya Poole
Nicole Lind

Which is better for your childcare business?

Before the Union After the Union

No rights and no respect A bargained bill of rights

Treated as professionals

Prompt notification of changes in rules, policies, payments, and program changes.

Weak individual voice at state and federal governments Strong collective voice at state and federal levels

Late pay bill sat dormant Moved "Late Pay Bill" to Passage

10-day turn around time

5-day notification of errors

Option - pay every 2 weeks or monthly

No due process

No grievance process

Appeal process for no support

Action prior to investigation

Due process for providers

Grievance procedure

Appeal process with support

Full investigation prior to action

No voice in the reimbursement rates for state subsidized childcare Won a reimbursement rate increase of 2% for state subsidized child care effective October 1

Individual provider met alone with local Iowa Department of Human Services to address working conditions and issues Providers through the union collective met with the Iowa DHS to address our issues, including health insurance, Q.R.S., Food Program and Univeral Pre-K.

Back row: Jen Bentson, Matt Tapscott, Lori Parsons, Terry LaBelle, Jill Dodds Kelly Thomas and Jeff Dodds. Front Row: Jodi Fiscus, Kathleen Brown, Kim Fisch and Della Mull.

Local 1212 CCPT Officers:

LOCAL 1212 OFFICERS Phone Number

Terry LaBelle, President 515-967-3231

Larraine Murray Vice President 515-274-4651

Jill Dodds, Secretary 319-351-2396

Kelly Thomas, Treasurer 712-629-2298

Jeff Dodds, Trustee

Kim Richman, Trustee

Debra Zurek, Trustee

Union Representative:
1-800-372-6054 or 515-246-1517
Steve Roth, ext. 605
sroth@afscmeiowa.org

Local 1212 Regions & Chapters

Chapter 1 Chair Jodi Fiscus

Chapter 1 Secretary Jen Bentson

Chapter 2 Chair Della Mull

Chapter 2 Secretary (OPEN)

Chapter 3 Chair Kelly Thomas

Chapter 3 Secretary Donna Maddox

Chapter 4 Chair Rene Houck

Chapter 4 Secretary Amy Renner

Chapter 5 Chair Debra Coen

Chapter 5 Secretary JoAnn Lewis

How Much We All Accomplish Depends on Your Support!

The most basic way to show your support is to sign a membership card for Local 1212. A large number of members is essential to winning improvements – it shows the state that we are serious about continuing to make progress for Iowa child care providers.

LABOR RELATED LINKS:

►Iowa AFL-CIO
►AFSCME International
►Buy Union
►University of Iowa Labor Center