Nation's Grandparents Unionize, Threaten Strike Over Childcare Benefits
Facing skyrocketing daycare costs, families turned to grandma and grandpa — who have now countered with a collective bargaining agreement.
Faced with childcare bills that rival mortgage payments, American parents have increasingly leaned on grandparents to fill the gap. This week, those grandparents leaned back, filing paperwork to form the country's first certified Grandparent Labor Alliance.
"We came together as one household, divided by nap schedules," said a union spokesperson, before excusing themselves to negotiate a snack break into the bylaws. The union's opening demands include a defined-benefit pension, dental coverage for the teeth they still have, and hazard pay for any activity involving a trampoline.
Organizers say members will continue providing free labor during a mandatory cooling-off period, defined internally as "however long it takes to finish this crossword." But they warn that a full work stoppage is possible if grandchildren are dropped off before 9 a.m. without advance notice.
Parents reached for comment expressed support for the union in principle, provided negotiations wrap up before Tuesday's pickup window. Congressional aides say they have received the union's formal list of demands and have already scheduled a subcommittee meeting to schedule a hearing about it.