The union representing childcare workers is holding a rally and protest tonight in Watsonville. The Service Employees International Union says Santa Cruz County has a childcare crisis that is damaging the education of young children.
According to the union, licensed child care slots are not available for 71% of children aged 0-12 with working parents. Also, the average cost of child care in Santa Cruz County is higher than the statewide average. The 2016 average annual cost of enrolling a child in a licensed child care center was $15,045 for infants and toddlers and $10,590 for preschool age children. Each of these averages was nearly $2,000 more per year than the statewide averages.
The Union says its members often work for poverty wages and sometimes lack proper training. Statewide there is a 1.2 million child shortfall in licensed childcare, the union says.
The protest will be held from 6 until 7:30 tonight at Watsonville City Plaza, 358 Main Street.
