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Article snippet: In connection with our Women Today section, which was tied to the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society in Paris on Oct. 5 and 6, we asked readers what were the challenges facing women in the work force and what did they think needed to be done to support their needs? Here are some of the responses we received. I’ve been a child care provider for the past 21 years in Watsonville, California and in that time, I’ve watched countless children in my care grow from cooing sweet baby talk to learning their ABCs to going off ready to learn more in kindergarten. While no one disagrees that my work is valuable, recognition of that ends when it comes to giving child care providers the ability to form a strong union and having a voice in the laws that shape our work. A union would me accomplish my goal of not just making ends meet but building a better life for my family and the families I serve. I’m proud of the care and education I provide children. But I also want to keep learning and share my knowledge to support parents who are doing their best to raise their children while holding down jobs. While much attention is given to the high cost of child care, what is often forgotten is that early childhood educators find themselves earning poverty wages and are unable to support their own families, much less afford additional education and training that will enable us to better serve the children in our care. As I look at the year ahead, I know that a union would raise t... Link to the full article to read more