Unions in Minnesota

I think this is the wave of the future. The unprotected entrepreneur cannot hope to make a living and grasp much respect from a society that still regards childcare as a low income and low value job. I've read a lot about these union decisions and this is the first one I've posted. The problem is whether unionizing will drive the cost of childcare up so that poor families are stuck with nightmare childcare.


Charles Ramsay
Mesabi Daily News
Wednesday, November 23rd, 2005

HIBBING — The St. Louis County Board took a big step Tuesday in recognizing the right of county child care providers to organize into a union, but it also had to keep in line an apparent turf battle between two unions.

Representatives from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the Service Employees International Union both told the board about their plans to organize daycare providers in the county.

The board voted to authorize county staffers to meet with AFSCME, the AFL-CIO, or ChildCare Providers Together “on matters of mutual concern to the county and to home-based licensed child care providers,’’ according to county documents.

SEIU is organizing in 15 counties statewide “to empower providers to take on a new leadership role’’ for better working conditions and wages, said union political director Kristin Beckmann. She asked the board to delay taking action right away.


But Mary Theurer of AFSCME Council 5 asked the board to approve the resolution now. “I do not believe this should be delayed,’’ she said, as the union needed to organize now to contact state lawmaekrs for the upcoming March session. AFSCME had signed up more than 200 of the 400-some licensed providers in the county, she added.

Board Chair Peg Sweeney of Proctor noted that AFSCME had been organizing child care providers for months now, and had been working with the County Attorney’s Office to work out details. Commissioner Mike Forsman of Ely added that “the obvious is there is a turf battle.’’

Two licensed childcare providers from the Hibbing area at the meeting Tuesday voiced doubts about the best way to proceed right now.

Tabitha Gordon said she wanted “both unions to tell us what they have to offer.’’

Amy Newman, who has runs her own provider business for 12 years, added, “We don’t want some entity to choose our union.’’

It is important to provide better conditions and wages, she said, as providers are felling discouraged with cuts in aid to providers recently.

“Something needs to be done,’’ Newman said. ‘The kids we are caring for are tomorrow’s leaders.’’

The County Board also approved sending a letter to licensed providers telling them the board was not picking a union for them, and that they are free to make their choices. The letter, and final vote on the county’s resolution, will be before the board at its Dec. 13 meeting.