The fight for adequate child care is a big challenge and opportunity for local unions. Working families need and deserve affordable, quality services for their children.

The Union of Clerical, Administrative and Technical Staff at New York University, NYSUT's largest private-sector School-Related Professionals local, has developed innovative contract language to meet the needs of many members.

Steve Rechner, the president of UCATS and a member of NYSUT's Board of Directors, helped negotiate the original agreement in 1996.

"We first negotiated a child care fund of $50,000 in 1996," Rechner said. "Each year the fund has increased by $5,000, so in 2009 it's about $115,000."

The allocation of funds is settled in annual talks between UCATS representatives and university officials. Together, they fix rates for one, two and three children. In 2008, members who applied received between $1,600 and $1,800, on average.

The funds are deposited into an employee account at the university's credit union. As members face expenses, they bring their receipts to the credit union and make withdrawals until their account is depleted. Unspent funds in one calendar year roll back into the general child care fund for the next year.

"This year 73 UCATS members used these child care subsidy awards," said Rechner, "making it one of the most-used contract benefits we've won."

He said that while the initial negotiations to gain this benefit were challenging, the talks have become easier.

Besides its importance to his members, Rechner describes it as a win for the employer. "It's a fixed cost for NYU, an excellent recruitment incentive and it burnishes the university's image as a progressive employer," he said.

Rechner is in constant contact with his members about their needs as employees and parents. Based on those discussions, he said their priorities in the coming years include parental leave, on-site day care and flextime.

"We'll keep advocating for our members," he said. "They are role models for their children and for everyone who has to juggle parenting and full-time work."

Contact Bernie Mulligan at bmulliga@nysutmail.org