This just in from the Worker’s Rights Center . . . and Wisconsin Council on Families and Children
The WRC Board has called off the picket scheduled at La Hacienda for Wednesday, July 25 at 5pm as a show of good faith to representatives from a number of community organizations working to resolve the dispute. Representatives from the WRC board will be meeting early next week with the owner of La Hacienda to discuss the wage and hour complaints. We will keep supporters posted on developments. The WRC board would like to acknowledge the overwhelming support that the community has show as the key that has brought the owner to the table.
Patrick Hickey
WRC Director
However, childcare issues could use your support tomorrow. This is from the Wisconsin Council on Families and Children. And its only part of the picture of how childcare funding is being slashed at the state capital.
Help Ensure Wisconsin’s Budget Reflects Our Values!
Every parent who needs it should have access to high quality early care and education for their children.
Wisconsin Shares funding is in jeopardy. Wisconsin child care providers need your help to maintain the bipartisan funding package for WI Shares and quality improvement initiatives.
Budget Background: The Wisconsin legislature is continuing its work on the state budget. The eight legislators who make up the conference committee (see bottom of email for names & contact information) are expected to start their work on the state budget this week. They face the daunting task of trying to reconcile vastly different Senate and Assembly versions of the budget – budgets with very different priorities. Whatever budget document the conference committee comes up with goes back to the Senate and the Assembly for up or down votes (no amendments or changes are allowed) and then to the Governor.
What can you do to help make sure that WI Shares is protected?
1. Contact the Conference Committee:
Take 2 minutes THIS WEEK and email all 8 members of the conference committee with the touch of a button! Click the Take Action button above you will have a sample message ready to add to and/or send as is. Thanks!
2. Join us for the Wisconsin Values Event
State Capitol Building, Senate Parlor
Thursday, July 26th @ 11:00 a.m.The Wisconsin Values Event: A large and diverse set of organizations (including SEIU, AARP, AFT, AFSCME, Wisconsin Counties Association, WI Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Planned Parenthood, Wisconsin Early Childhood Association and the Wisconsin Council on Children & Families) are coming together this Thursday, July 26th for this Wisconsin Values event to provide an opportunity for policy-makers, the public and the media to hear from individuals whose daily lives are impacted by the decisions on this budget. These individuals could be our neighbors, our friends, or members of our families. Like all of us, they value good schools, access to health care and child care, protection for our most vulnerable residents, strong communities, and higher education.
You’re invited: To ensure that the state legislature sees the strength represented in our collective voices, we need you to join us at the Capitol this Thursday morning! The event will last less than an hour, and participants will then stop by conference committee members’ offices to deliver a Wisconsin Values message about the budget. Your participation in this event is critically important and we hope you can take the time to join us.
More information about the state budget is available on WCCF’s website: www.wccf.org
Questions? Contact Vicky Selkowe at WCCF at vselkowe@wccf.org or (608) 284-0580, ext. 326.
This morning, the City’s Early Education and Childcare Committee had to make recommendations to request supplemental funding in the City’s budget for the following programs due to CCCI State funding cuts that are likely to affect the following programs:
- Dane County Parent Council – Latino/Hispanic Program $13,930
- Rainbow Pride Project $23,483
- Community Coordinated Child Care – Latino Child Care Project $26,985
- Wexford Ridge – Elementary AFter School and Summer Camp $5,300
That’s on top of the cuts we made because of the Mayors 3% cut budget instructions, where funding was cut for:
- Simpson Street Free Press – Elementary School Summer Writing Workshop $8,647
- Community Coordinated Child Care – Training and Professional Development $33,554
Those are completely different cuts than the cuts to Wisconsin Shares listed above, so childcare funding is getting hit all over the place, so please, if you have time, consider stopping by the State Capital or emailing in support of both Wisconsin Shares and CCCI funds.
