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Analysis of the article: The Labor Relations of Love: Workers, Childcare, and the

State in 1970s Vancouver, British Columbia

Name

Institutional Affiliation

Course

Professor’s Name

Date
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Article Analysis

Pasolli, Lisa, and Julia Smith. "The Labor Relations of Love: Workers, Childcare, and the

State in 1970s Vancouver, British Columbia." Labor 14, no. 4 (2017): 39-60.

Introduction

Lisa Pasolli and Julia Smith examine the attempts by feminist organizations to mobilize

childcare workers in 1970s Vancouver, British Columbia. The article exposes the adamant

opposition to unionization by women regarded to be ‘simply babysitters’. The love-versus-

money division that inhibited women's organizing attempts in the care sector was addressed by

these employees' initiatives. Working together with parents, childcare professionals in

Vancouver emphasized the relevance of their typically private work to the public. They linked

their campaign for better working conditions to the fight for universal childcare in this way. They

associated women's workplace challenges to calls for a shift of current societal childcare

responsibilities away from families and the marketplace and toward Vancouver. 

Target Audience

The article targets the general public, especially women, as it examines the work carried

out by female caregivers, their liberation and working conditions.

Thesis

Women offering childcare and day-care services should be treated just like any other

normal workers in the country.

Use of Evidence

The authors used case studies to examine the fight by child care workers and feminist

organizations on childcare. For instance, they focus on a one-day strike in 1976 where child care

employees from British Columbia were protesting against minimal wages and the poor working
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conditions1. The strike attracted the press and many other feminist and human rights

organizations including SORWUC and SSEU. The authors also use various sources to back up

their information of female caregivers. Most of the evidences used are related to Vancouver,

feminism and Child Care therefore proving the reliability of the results of the study. The authors

also use other articles with similar studies to relate with their own investigations. For instance,

they use the article, Negotiated Care; Tuominen, We Are Not Babysitters, by Nelson to show

how American day-care providers and childcare employees were denied jobs due to a shaky and

tense relationship with the government2. Generally, the article utilizes multiple articles, books

and journals on feminist groups, childcare and labor strikes.

Purpose of the study

The purpose of the study is to show a clear image of the struggles undergone by

caregivers and day-care workers and how to improve their working conditions.

How the article fits within the historiography

The article fits within the historiography by critically examining past evidences, selecting

specific information from them and then using the information to convince the readers on the

experiences of childcare workers. The article may also be used in the future as a reference to

other forms of suppression and labor strikers because it is hard to find a country that does not

have such experiences.

Results

Despite the fact that the one-day strike attracted a lot of publicity through the media, it

had little immediate impact. It did not assist employees secure collective bargaining agreements

in the short term. Striking employees were credited with a slight rise in subsidy rates imposed by

1
Pasolli, Lisa, and Julia Smith. "The Labor Relations of Love: Workers, Childcare, and the State in 1970s
Vancouver, British Columbia, p.47
2
Pasolli, Lisa, and Julia Smith. "The Labor Relations of Love, p.40
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Vander Zalm in 19763. The increase, however, was a minor tweak to an already-broken system.

It fell far short of what was needed to cover many centers' running costs, let alone offer salary

increases to staff. Many centers continued to suffer financially. Vander Zalm also eliminated the

fee ceiling, redirecting his idea that, financial responsibility for childcare is a family and market

affair4. Childcare activism in Vancouver was losing steam by the late 1970s, owing to continuous

disagreements with the Social Credit government, as well as fragmentation within advocacy

organizations5.

State governments in Canada kept insisting that the care of children was primarily the

responsibility of mothers and families, except in cases of family crisis or significant need, and

thus remained unwilling to address the possibility of an enhanced publicly funded system6.

Efforts to enhance wages and working conditions, as well as the overall quality and accessibility

of childcare in the province were mostly unsuccessful without substantial state backing. Despite

knowing that they could not rely on the government to enhance childcare, SORWUC members

remained dedicated to negotiating contracts with parent societies7. SORWUC continued holding

and acquiring certifications for some of its original childcare bargaining units throughout the late

1970s and early 1980s.

Judging from the results, the purpose of the article was not fully achieved. This is

because, although there is a clear fight for the improvement of pay and working conditions of the

child care workers, the strike does not bear immediate fruits. There was only a slight

improvement to their pay which could hardly impact their working conditions positively.

Significance of the Study

3
Ibid, p. 54
4
Ibid, p. 54
5
Ibid, p. 55
6
Ibid, p.56
7
Ibid, p.56
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The major significance of this study is that it exposed the government’s ignorance on

child care givers who are an important part of the growth and development of children. The

strike might have taken place in Canada but it is the same problem that takes place in most

countries. The study is also significant because it shows that all workers have the freedom of

expression and can therefore fight for their rights if they feel suppressed. The one-day strike

conducted by the childcare and day care employees may not have bared the immediate fruits but

it made the government aware of their pleas. The study also showed the importance of workers

unions and organizations in the fights for their rights. Intervention by unions like SORWUC and

SSEU gave the employees a better chance to get the government’s attention. Even today and in

the future, it is important that employees join labor unions and organizations so that in cases of

suppression or any grievances, it is the unions that take action.

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Bibliography

Pasolli, Lisa, and Julia Smith. "The Labor Relations of Love: Workers, Childcare, and the State

in 1970s Vancouver, British Columbia." Labor 14, no. 4 (2017): 39-60.