Dignity, January 01, 2007, Image 4

A Victory For Childcare Workers:
First Contract!
importance of the work they do.
Low-income working parents were
also struggling with high co-pays
while living on poverty level wages
themselves.
Child care providers have worked
hard to form a union to address
their issues. Early in December,
their efforts paid off. Child care
providers reached an agreement
that will change the lives of 5,000
license-exempt family care givers
and make child care more afford­
able and accessible for working
families throughout Oregon.
Portland Childcare workers Portia Moye and Delizya McClinton celebrate!
Homecare workers have a special
connection with childcare
providers. While we work for
seniors and people with
disabilities and childcare providers
work for the parents of children,
that's where the differences
end. Child care providers have
been isolated, struggling to make
ends meet on very low wages,
no benefits and with little
acknowledgment of the
Some highlights of
their agreement:
• Wage increases, on
average 18% effective
October 2007
You could be eligible for a Tax Refund!
• Co-payments charged
to families reduced
by 20%
You may be eligible for an Earned Income Tax Credit, which is a
refundable federal income tax credit for low-income working
individuals and families. This refund has no effect on eligibility
for Medicaid, SSI, food stamps or low-income housing.
Depending on your family size and income, you may qualify for
between $412 and $4,536 in Earned Income Tax Credit.
• Eligibility threshold
increased from
150% to 185% so
more families can get
child care
Between February 1 and April 15, AARP of Oregon is offering
free tax filing advice to anyone who calls toll free: 866-554-5360
or 888-687-2277. When you call, they'll ask for your zip code
and then refer you to the nearest AARP representative in your
community to receive free tax filing assistance. You may also
receive assistance by calling the Tax Payer Advocates Service
Intake Line at 877-777-4778 or TTY/TTD 800-829-4059.
Take advantage of this tax credit. Consider it a small token
of appreciation and a bonus for a year of providing critical
services to your consumer-employer!
• A training program
• Agreement to
negotiate health
benefits in the
2009-2011 biennium