Labor 131: Cornell Professor Explores Childcare as a Labor Issue

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Justine Modica

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This edition of Labor 131, presented by the National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, features Justine Modica, Assistant Professor at Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations, who joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the history of childcare as a labor issue, unionization efforts in the industry and potential solutions to the current childcare crisis.

Modica delved into the historical context of childcare in America, highlighting the Lanham Act of 1942, which created 3,000 childcare centers nationwide to support women employed in war industries. This brief flirtation with universal childcare ended after World War II, with most centers closing due to withdrawn federal funding. Modica explained how subsequent efforts to establish comprehensive childcare programs, such as the Comprehensive Child Development Act of 1971, were thwarted by political opposition and anti-feminist backlash.

The professor explored the challenges of organizing childcare workers, noting that the industry's structure of small, often privately-owned centers makes traditional unionization difficult. Modica highlighted successful organizing efforts, including AFSCME's 1969 strike in New York City and the Worthy Wage Campaign in Seattle during the 1990s. However, she emphasized that sustainable improvements in wages and working conditions often depend on public funding, which remains a significant hurdle in the field.

Addressing potential solutions, Modica stressed the importance of public funding for childcare centers to improve both affordability for families and wages for workers. She argued that framing childcare as a public good, rather than a private family responsibility, could lead to better outcomes for workers, families and society. Modica suggested that electing pro-worker officials at various levels of government could pave the way for increased funding and support for the childcare sector.

Listen to the full episode for more insights on the complex history and future of childcare as a labor issue in America.

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