Statement on the Closure of the CAW Child Care Centre

From Ken Lewenza, CAW National President

WINDSOR, ON, Aug. 15, 2012 /CNW/ - The CAW is frustrated and saddened by the announced closure of the CAW Child Care Centre in Windsor.  It is a terrible day for Windsor-area parents who now have one less option available to them for affordable, quality care, where few options exist.

When the union bargained monies from Chrysler, General Motors and Ford to set up the child care centre more than 23 years ago, it was with the plan of creating a measure to support parents, where governments were then failing to do so. It was with the intention that the quality, not for profit care provided at the centre could be a model for a genuine child care strategy that benefited children and parents alike, right across the province and across the country. More than two decades later, governments are still failing parents and children. And our dream of quality, affordable, not for profit child care has still not yet come into fruition.

With major downsizing in the auto industry, the companies can no longer afford to subsidize the centre.  Without government support for quality, affordable, not for profit child care, the centre is unable to keep the doors open. Our centre is one of many who have had to close because of a lack of government support, with resources instead being diverted to implementing full-day kindergarten, ignoring the need for child care - both for non-school aged children and wrap around services for school aged kids.

We must create better child care opportunities so that parents do not have to string together an endless series of stop-gap measures, just to ensure their children are safe, happy and being well-cared for.

From Anna Angelidis, Executive Director of CAW Community Child Care and Developmental Services Inc.

It is with regret and deep sadness that we announce the permanent closure of the CAW Child Care Centre in Windsor.

In the absence of government funding for child care, paired with the implementation of full day early learning and without the contributions from Chrysler and Ford Motor Company, CAW Child Care Services is forced to terminate the services, effective September 30, 2012.

The decision to permanently close the CAW Child Care Centre in Windsor was the toughest decision the Board had to make. The closure of the CAW Child Care Centre in Windsor is not only a loss for our organization but for the entire community.

The closure represents: 

• a loss of a model centre to be copied for the community, the province and the country through the commitment and the dedication of our Board and staff.

• the loss of 150 high quality regulated not for profit extended hour licensed child care spaces.

• the loss of 59 well-paid, highly skilled jobs in this community.

• the loss of extended hour high quality child care for a 173 families and 244 children currently enrolled in our program.

• the loss of an investment made by CAW and the Corporations for our children for over 23 years.

CAW Child Care is committed to supporting the staff and parents during this difficult time in every way possible.

SOURCE: Canadian Auto Workers Union (CAW)

Anna Angelidis [phone] Ext. 223 or CAW Communications Shannon Devine (cell) 416-302-1699