MONTPELIER, Vt. -
Early educators are asking the Vermont Senate to help them unionize.
Tuesday, parents and teachers gathered in Montpelier to push the Senate to pass a bill that would allow them to partake in limited collective bargaining. The bill passed the House last session; antitrust laws prevent the workforce from forming a union without lawmaker approval.
"Passing H. 97 is the permanent solution. It allows us experts who work with children every day to partner with the state to improve the early education and care system," said Cathi St. Marie, a home child care provider.
Child care providers in Vermont have a 40 percent turnover rate. Supporters of the bill say unionizing will allow them to give more stability to educators and in turn the children they care for. But critics say unionizing may hurt smaller at-home day care providers and some lawmakers object to the group's aggressive lobbying.
