Cindi Young

“I never wanted to belong to the union. Every time they sent me something I told them that, no, I did not want to belong to it. And then they still took money out of my check for dues.”

“Year after year, I had asked the state to stop deducting the dues. I don’t understand why they were still taking my money. I want my money back.”

“I started a home day care back in 1996. As home day care providers we had to follow the same and even more guidelines to work with the state. They were very strict on home providers back then, and yet we made less than ‘traditional centers.’ As home care providers we only received about $17.58 a day per child. ‘Centers’ were paid about $36.50 a day per child.”

“And on top of receiving less pay, SEIU took $22.80 out of my check every month. I kept asking, ‘Why is this money being taken out of my check?’ Every time that they would send me something, I would say, ‘No, I don’t want to be with the union. I don’t see any benefit in it. And I need to really know why you guys are taking my money out. And could you please give it back?’”

“That’s a lot of money year after year. I worked for over 27 years, and SEIU took $22 a month for 27 years out of my check at a lower pay rate. I did just as much if not more work caring for kids, for less pay from the state, and union dues were taken out of my check.”

“I never signed up to be a part of the union, so I kept asking the state why they were deducting dues when I didn’t want to be in the union. I already belong to so many groups, with day care providers. We would have meetings and such and support each other. So for 27 years, I kept asking, ‘Why?’”

“I stopped working as a care provider two years ago. I’m on disability, and I surrendered my license. On the last check that I received, they still took the money out even though I opted out of my license. So even when I chose to opt out of doing day care, they still took my money.”

“I would really like to have my money back, which will probably never happen. But I just want to let other providers know that when they send you information for the union, ask somebody to help or even call them and tell them, you don’t quite understand what it is.”

“If you don’t want to be with the union, you have the option to tell them, and you can opt out.”

Cindi Young
Former child care provider
Rock Island, Illinois