Santa Clara Co. child care case workers begin 2-day strike

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Families looking for help paying for child care in Santa Clara County will have to wait a few days. Case workers are walking the picket line to begin a two-day strike.

The San Jose Police Department was called out to keep an eye on the situation.

Protesters say they're passionate about helping families find child care in Santa Clara County but their organization isn't doing its part.

The protest by striking workers and the SEIU outside the Community Child Care Council of Santa Clara County was loud and, a few times, confrontational.

The message may have been lost on the people frustrated by the tactics of the protesters.

They blocked cars trying to get into the parking lot from River Oaks Parkway in San Jose, asking drivers who they were and who they worked for.

The property manager was frustrated that vehicles couldn't get in and started picking up the protester's cones.

Eventually, San Jose police came out and told protesters to stop blocking the driveway but the issues dividing workers and the Community Child Care Council persist.

The nonprofit's website says it has a staff of 150 and a $4.5 million budget, with most of that subsidizing child care for thousands of low-income families in Santa Clara County.

Many employees unionized last year and are looking for a new contract, saying case workers and others are overwhelmed by the increase in clients and the need for more new hires.

"One of the things we like to do is express to the people is this is their tax money that we're working with but at the same point of time, if we can't deliver the services, they're not going to get their child care. And that's a big problem for us, it's a big concern," case worker Mario Del Castillo said.

No one at the Community Child Care Council was available to comment.

The protest is scheduled to last through Friday.