A: Maybe. Although the expressed intent of unions at the national level is not to duplicate services now provided by other child care organizations (CCR&R agencies, family child care associations, and other advocacy groups), union actions could create some unwanted competition. Unions and child care organizations have worked cooperatively in many states to fight state budget cuts and lobby to influence state legislation that will benefit providers. On many issues there is a common ground among these organizations. In some states unions and child care organizations have made agreements about how they will collaborate. Some child care organizations have expressed concern that unions might compete with them by offering trainings, conferences, and other services. It's too soon to tell whether or not this will create significant problems, but it's important for unions and child care organizations to continue to reach out to each other to share what they are doing and to cooperate whenever possible. Although there may be agreements made at a national or state level between unions and child care organizations, it is important for providers and child care organizations to follow closely what happens at their local level and to speak out if there are problems. No one organization (whether a union or a child care organization) can say they speak for all providers, and no organization should have a monopoly on providing benefits to providers. Individual providers also have a responsibility to support organizations that represent their interests and to speak out when any organization does not act in their best interests. Thanks to Tom Copeland - Redlead Institute