the official blog of the evergreen freedom foundation

Taxpayer-funded unionism update

Posted by Scott Dilley - March 05, 2008

Here's an update on a couple labor issues working their way through the legislature.
 
First, bill language allowing specialized foster parents to unionize has been shelved -- at least for the moment. The Senate Human Services & Corrections Committee amended HB 3145 into a department plan bill, but according to The Olympian, the Washington Federation of State Employees will try to get the union language reinserted so that WFSE can expand its membership to include another captive audience. Bottom line: This issue isn't really dead until the legislature adjourns.
 
Second, the effort to unionize small child-care centers is moving forward. The Senate Ways & Means Committee passed an amended version of HB 2449, clearing the way for the measure to be brought up on the Senate floor. This bill would allow money to be taken away from child-care centers that accept state-supported low-income children and would redirect it as dues to a labor union. The union would then negotiate with the state for a higher payout to the centers. Bottom line: Unions could get more members and money while people pay more money for child care.
 

Update: Bruce Ramsey provides insightful comments on child-care center unionization in his opinion column in today's Seattle Times.

Thoughts?   Add Comment -

Betsy Lenz said on Mar 05 2008 at 7:07pm


I have been working in a childcare center for over 10 years now. I am concerned about the effects that HB 2449 may threaten many childcare provider job positions. It is hard enough trying to find a job now you are going to make it harder for people by forcing them out of their current job. Our center has made it very clear that they will be forced to downsize due to passing of HB 2449. Our center will no longer take state funded children, which are 33% of our current child count. The center where I am employed has 15 full time providers, after the bill passes they will downsize to 11 or fewer to accommodate for the children that were state funded. It is unfortunate that house representatives are unable to view this concept as a threat to others who are trying to make a living for themselves or their family.



Centers and workers should not be forced into a union, what happened to freedom? Well I guess the answer is freedom isn’t free it comes at a price that the children have to pay. My other question is how is it right to force center directors/owners to give private information unwillingly to union representatives without the childcare providers consent? Isn’t that a privacy issue that may have to be looked at? I know for a fact I do not want any union representative contacting me in the future not now, not ever, and if I wanted to contact them I am sure I could very easily get a hold a representative at my discretion. I hope you understand you are undermining childcare providers. I personally feel offended and violated. Allowing the union to obtain such personal information that may possibly be sold to a third party in the future is absurd and may potentially open doors for lawsuits.



I have urged senators and the govenor that they please VOTE NO on this bill and look at the potential damaging effects this will have on children who are at subsidy rate that will not be allowed into certain quality childcare centers across Washington due to a forced decision that could have been stopped.





Betsy Lenz
Grandview, WA