Fighting for Affordable Childcare: Wisconsin’s Budget Cuts to Working Women

9to5 members in Milwaukee are not planning to leave their children home alone or quit their jobs in the face of proposed cuts to the state childcare funding.  Instead, they are organizing to oppose the Governor’s budget-cutting plan. The "cut's only" budget undermines economic security by kicking working moms off WI Shares (Childcare program), it denies equal opportunity to children by blocking access to high quality caregivers, and it makes it harder for women to live balanced and independent lives by forcing people to choose between their jobs and childcare.

Members shared information on how the cuts to the Wisconsin Shares program would effect them and their families. Milwaukee Alderwoman Coggs  expressed her concern surrounding the recent cuts and reassured families that she supports those that are affected. A worker from Wisconsin Early Childhood Association spoke about the Youngstar Professional Development Training that daycare providers in Milwaukee must participate in order to continue to provide care in WI. Overall we had over100 people make calls to state representatives asking them to support working women and their families and vote against these cuts.  Members also went to  Madison and asked legislators to oppose a budget that is balanced on the backs of working mothers.