UFT Heat Spurs ACS To Release Checks For Home-Care Staff

The Administration for Children's Services Dec. 11 ceded to pressure from the United Federation of Teachers and paid child-care providers checks they had been waiting on for more than a month.

ACS Commissioner John Mattingly produced two $100,000 checks for child-care providers in the East New York network, which will deliver wages to 98 workers who have not been paid since Nov. 9. The backlog arose after the East New York network's contract was not promptly renewed by the city, which led to Nov. 24 and Dec. 8 checks being missed.

'Outrageous Treatment'

"While I am grateful that Commissioner Mattingly came through today, expediting checks to East New York Network, in general the way the ACS has treated home day-care providers in New York City is outrageous, and it must stop," said UFT President Randi Weingarten in a statement. The union had planned to protest outside ACS headquarters last Friday, but canceled the rally after Mr. Mattingly provided the checks.

The UFT providers allege that ACS is frequently late with payments because the administration mails time-sheets late, or because its automated payment system goes down, preventing people from verifying their hours with the city.

Angela Curry, a provider from East Flatbush, Brooklyn, said in the statement that she was hit hard by the missed checks. "I can't miss two paychecks and keep living as normal," she said. She said was unable to buy groceries for her own children, including Thanksgiving dinner, and was not able to pay her rent on Dec. 1.

The providers are paid $19,610 on average by the city, a figure that the union has been attempting to raise, pointing to a higher state-approved wage that has been met by every other municipality in the state. A City Council hearing is scheduled this week on the subject.