Unions Will Hijack Maine Daycare Costs for Parents
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Brian M Johnson
24 OCTOBER 2007
202-785-0266
Unions Will Hijack Maine Daycare Costs for Parents
Labor Analyst Expresses Concern about Growing Trend
Washington, DC – Today, the Alliance for Worker Freedom (AWF) condemned the recent vote in Maine for child care providers to join the Maine State Employees Association, a part of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). The SEIU has been the central union spearheading the drive to unionize child care providers and has been opposed by Maryland State Family Childcare Association.
According to AWF’s policy director Brian Johnson, “By unionizing child care providers, Big Labor is given the power to push state subsidy rates well-above what private parents currently pay..”
Child care providers, who have previously been classified as independent contractors, will be, under this union, determined to be state employees. Johnson argues the unions wish to increase their membership base and ultimately, increase their due paying members. “Unions are representatives, and in this case, they represent the child-care provider, NOT the child. Therefore, Governor Baldacci should oppose this measure as unions will bargain on behalf of the business rather than the child’s best interest,” says Johnson.
Since 2005, 10 states have allowed providers to unionize and three states, Washington, Illinois and Oregon, have approved union contracts. Currently, Maine and Maryland have both been targeted by the SEIU. Many states’ child care unionization proposals have provisions that allow day-care providers to organize if a certain percentage (a popular number is 30 percent), of those who receive state subsidies authorize a union to be their representative. The union would then become the exclusive representative of all day-care providers in the state.
“Make no mistake, if this union day-care collective bargaining trend continues, parents will have to pay outrageous prices to send their children to a provider’s home, where a high-end luxury car now sits in the driveway thanks to union bargaining.”
Maine Press & Talk Radio Alert:
To schedule an interview with Brian Johnson, call 202-785-0266 or
email jkartch@atr.org
