An AFSCME member and child care provider joined the Care Can’t Wait Bus Tour in Philadelphia Wednesday to draw attention to the struggles facing parents and caregivers in the care economy.

Latonta Godboldt, owner and director of Small Wonders Family Childcare and Learning Center in Philadelphia, said parents of young children are not getting the help they need in finding affordable child care or receiving paid family leave from their employers.

As labor unions gain in popularity, workers’ rights remain under threat. But while private sector workers have the right to form unions under federal law, public service workers lack that same guarantee.

AFSCME President Lee Saunders praised the White House’s announcement Thursday that the Biden administration will forgive student loans for an additional 78,000 borrowers — including many AFSCME members — under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.