Posted on 09/21/2009 3:55:00 PM PDT by Kieri
A pair of local child care workers are suing the state over their mandatory inclusion into a union.
Following a December 2008 notification letter from the state, child care workers began paying union dues to the Child Care Providers Together Michigan, an arm under the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and United Auto Workers, because they receive subsidy checks from the Michigan Department of Human Services for caring for children of low income families. But Petoskey residents Sherry Loar and Dawn Ives said they never asked to be part of a union and contacted the Mackinaw Center for Public Policy to help them.
“How do I hold a labor management meeting?” Loar asked. “I’m labor and management. Do I get a mirror? Develop a dual personality?”
“I’m not against unions,” Ives said. “It’s a bit absurd that they can come to my front yard and get me started in a union.”
Both Loar and Ives run small day cares, and receive a subsidy for only one child, and neither of them said they want any of the money taken out of their checks returned — they simply want it to stop. It is estimated the union draws $3.7 million annually from the state checks, although both Loar and Ives said it amounts to less than 30 cents out of their checks from the state.
“That money should be going to the kids,” Loar said.
Patrick Wright, an attorney and senior legal analyst with the Mackinaw Center, of Midland, is working for Loar and Ives pro-bono, and filed the lawsuit in the state court of appeals.
“There are not any facts in dispute. It’s a matter of principle,” Wright said. “Expanding the pool of public employees can only be done by the legislature.”
The union, which includes 40,000 home-based day care providers, was created after more than 5,000 members voted for it and fewer than 500 voted against it.
Both Loar and Ives said they never received ballots. The union’s creation followed an inter-local agreement between DHS and Mott Community College that first established the Michigan Home Based Child Care Council. Elizabeth Jordan, the executive director, is one of only two paid employees in the council and said she does not have any details about the union.
“We have a collective bargaining agreement to work with the union,” she said. “The dues are deducted by DHS through the council to the union. We just stand here, hold it and pass it on. We have no control over how much it is or where it comes from.”
The state has 21 days, or until Oct. 7, to file an official response to the lawsuit. DHS declined to comment on his article on the grounds that pending litigation is not discussed.
Calls placed to the child care union were not returned by press time.
Noah Fowle 439-9374 - nfowle@petoskeynews.com
http://www.detnews.com/article/20090921/OPINION01/909210331/1008/Lawsuit-raises-questions-about-deal-in-which-union-gets-dues-from-baby-sitter-subsidy-checks
NOTE: My husband learned today that this isn't just child day care that's been unionized -- adult foster care has been hit as well!
A pair of local child care workers are suing the state over their mandatory inclusion into a union. Following a December 2008 notification letter from the state, child care workers began paying union dues to the Child Care Providers Together Michigan, an arm under the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and United Auto Workers, because they receive subsidy checks from the Michigan Department of Human Services for caring for children of low income families... It is estimated the union draws $3.7 million annually from the state checks, although both Loar and Ives said it amounts to less than 30 cents out of their checks from the state. "That money should be going to the kids," Loar said. Patrick Wright, an attorney and senior legal analyst with the Mackinaw Center, of Midland, is working for Loar and Ives pro-bono... "Expanding the pool of public employees can only be done by the legislature." The union, which includes 40,000 home-based day care providers, was created after more than 5,000 members voted for it and fewer than 500 voted against it. Both Loar and Ives said they never received ballots. The union's creation followed an inter-local agreement between DHS and Mott Community College that first established the Michigan Home Based Child Care Council. Elizabeth Jordan, the executive director, is one of only two paid employees in the council and said she does not have any details about the union. "We have a collective bargaining agreement to work with the union," she said. "The dues are deducted by DHS through the council to the union. We just stand here, hold it and pass it on. We have no control over how much it is or where it comes from."Interesting that a community college is involved, that there was a bogus ballot (surprise surprise), that there's *already* a collective bargaining agreement, etc...
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