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This week, child care providers in California will vote on whether to unionize. The move could mean they will finally be able to fight the state for more reimbursement and better pay – hopefully, something higher than the current national average of $10.72 per hour.
Many such providers are women of color. Speaking to KPCC’s Mariana Dale, Lea Austin, director of the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment at UC Berkeley, noted that the low wages associated with childcare can be traced back to the days when Black women were kidnapped, trafficked and forced into unpaid labor in America.
"There's a long history in this country of people expecting servitude, and [for] Black women and Brown women to care for other people and other people's children," Austin said.
The union, Child Care Providers United, is a partnership between the Service Employees International Union and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Votes will be tallied on Friday.
Keep reading for more on what’s happening in L.A. today, and stay safe out there.
Coming Up Today, July 21
L.A. County officials are considering a measure for the November ballot that would require that a certain percentage of county funds be spent every year on affordable housing, job training, mental health services and more. Robert Garrova will have the story.
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The Past 24 Hours In LA
Confronting Racism: Trader Joe's is getting rid of product names such as Trader José's, Arabian Joe's and Trader Ming's that critics say are racist and perpetuate "harmful stereotypes."
Coronavirus Updates: L.A. County officials reported 3,116 new confirmed cases of coronavirus Monday, bringing the total to at least 159,046 cases countywide. Gov. Gavin Newsom stressed the importance of a national testing strategy for containing the coronavirus. The start of fall high school sports is delayed until at least December.
Money Matters: In another blow to the beleaguered movie theater business, Warner Bros. has pulled Christopher Nolan’s big-budget Tenet from release this summer. International travel to Los Angeles has dwindled to almost nothing, amounting to nearly $5 billion in lost revenue for the local tourism industry. This week, 43,000 California child care workers will decide whether to unionize.
Horse Racing: The California Horse Racing Board has approved a plan that will allow races to continue at Los Alamitos track after the facility was placed on probation.
First Person: In this last installment of a three-part series, Bumdog Torres reflects on his journey as a photographer living and working the streets.
Here’s What To Do: Watch The Mads riff on an Ed Wood movie, learn how racism is a public health issue, listen to Broadway performers play original material, and more in this week’s best online and IRL events.
Photo Of The Day
The view of L.A. City Hall from 4th street, as the sun sets.
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This post has been updated to reflect changes in what's coming up for today.
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