MN Union-Anyone Familiar

[jojosmommy]

Mn is attempting to start a union of daycare professionals and this company/group has been going around asking people to sign these cards "for more information" on things like getting better health care, getting better state reimbursement for assistance, etc. Once people sign these cards they are being placed in the union-well in the list of people supporting the union until a union can actually be formed (the card is actually a union sign up card but is NOT being represented as such) Many providers from our area have had to write to this company/group and ask for their card back b/c they were not aware this was what they were signing up for. Apparently they can get their name off the list of supporters by writing to them.

We have been told that if you accept child care assistance or are on the food program you will AUTOMATICALLY be signed up for the union AND monthly union dues will AUTOMATICALLY be taken from either your food program pmt or your assistance payment.

So here are my questions:
Is anyone familiar with this practice or had this happen in your state?

Is that legal?

Doesn't that promote people not being on the food program and not allowing assistance clients (thus creating even more shortage for those families looking for care)?

Anyone have any clear publicized info from their own unions?

Anyone a union member (daycare only please) and have actually had the union get them things like better health care, etc. ???? Seems like a bunch of bogus to me but maybe someone can shed some light on this.

[MsMe]

Iowa did this a few years ago. I don't know that it was ONLY daycare providers I think it also included teachers too. I was interested bc I am not married and I have no health ins. they were a few years out from getting anything like that so i stopped paying attention after awhile. The way we get paid from the state (online timecards) changed and I think (?) they had something to do with it.

My point is while I don't know much about it maybe you could look into what Iowa did and see if it is kinds teh same thing?

[MN Day Mom]

Where are you getting this information from? I can't believe that anyone could be forced in to the union??

[DCMom]

I am in Minnesota. If you do not want to be a member of a union, do not fill out the card. The unions are using the cards for card check~in place of your signature on petitions, etc. When I signed mine I didn't realize what they were up to, I thought I was signing up for more information as you said. Then I started getting newsletters and announcements for union meeting and rallys. When I call and asked why, they told me because I was a union member. When I asked for my anniversary date, the date they told me as about the time the rep was coming door to door with the cards. I have since requested my card back in writing (which you must do; you can't just request it over the phone). There is a big push in MN right now to sign up daycare providers because of early childhood legislation that is part of the education bill up for vote in the legislature (they may have voted on it already, not sure).

As far as I know, you will not automatically be part of the union if you get child assistance payments, but if you are a union member I believe that is how they will deduct your dues. I don't have any state aid kids, so I can''t answer that for certain. I never heard anything about deductions from food program reimbursements; I am a member of the food program and I have never had anything deducted even though I am apparently a union member of not one, but two unions. AFSCME and SEIU...not sure how that happened because I only signed one card and nobody at either organization seems to be able to answer that question for me, so I requested my sign up documents from both.

I can't answer whether or not it is legal; at the very least it's shady. I just have no interest in being part of a union. Just my opinion.

[thecrazyisout]

UGH, Unions.....I get so turned off by the whole thought of this.......I was a part of a union a while back and it was a crock...I find it offensive that I HAD to pay dues and HAD to be part of something that I felt I could be better off with out....Anyways, that's my two cents......

[SimpleMom]

I'm not sure either, but I DID sign a card for supporting cheaper health insurance--NOT a union member I'll be writing to get my card back for sure. I specifically ASKED if this was for union membership and she said "no", we don't have a union in my state.
uggh...good to know what it's really about

[thecrazyisout]

I'm not sure either, but I DID sign a card for supporting cheaper health insurance--NOT a union member I'll be writing to get my card back for sure. I specifically ASKED if this was for union membership and she said "no", we don't have a union in my state.
uggh...good to know what it's really about

This is exactly why I have such a terrible taste in my mouth when it comes to this subject....I have somewhat of a labor relations background, and too many times did I see things like this....yes, if we could only lower health care insurance, but it is bound to keep going up..... I hope you get your card back!!!

[PitterPatter]

Mn is attempting to start a union of daycare professionals and this company/group has been going around asking people to sign these cards "for more information" on things like getting better health care, getting better state reimbursement for assistance, etc. Once people sign these cards they are being placed in the union-well in the list of people supporting the union until a union can actually be formed (the card is actually a union sign up card but is NOT being represented as such) Many providers from our area have had to write to this company/group and ask for their card back b/c they were not aware this was what they were signing up for. Apparently they can get their name off the list of supporters by writing to them.

We have been told that if you accept child care assistance or are on the food program you will AUTOMATICALLY be signed up for the union AND monthly union dues will AUTOMATICALLY be taken from either your food program pmt or your assistance payment.

So here are my questions:
Is anyone familiar with this practice or had this happen in your state?

Is that legal?

Doesn't that promote people not being on the food program and not allowing assistance clients (thus creating even more shortage for those families looking for care)?

Anyone have any clear publicized info from their own unions?

Anyone a union member (daycare only please) and have actually had the union get them things like better health care, etc. ???? Seems like a bunch of bogus to me but maybe someone can shed some light on this.

OH MY!! I haven't heard of anything like that here. Of course that BS of me having to provide the backup care for any holidays I am closed is new to me too. I think the state can be sneaky!

If I have to pay dues to a union I was forced to join that will be my final straw! I will have to leave the state program just out of lack of respect for the providers. I have been thinking about that already.

[jojosmommy]

OH MY!! I haven't heard of anything like that here. Of course that BS of me having to provide the backup care for any holidays I am closed is new to me too. I think the state can be sneaky!

If I have to pay dues to a union I was forced to join that will be my final straw! I will have to leave the state program just out of lack of respect for the providers. I have been thinking about that already.

Are you in MN?

[Blackcat31]

Mn is attempting to start a union of daycare professionals and this company/group has been going around asking people to sign these cards "for more information" on things like getting better health care, getting better state reimbursement for assistance, etc. Once people sign these cards they are being placed in the union-well in the list of people supporting the union until a union can actually be formed (the card is actually a union sign up card but is NOT being represented as such) Many providers from our area have had to write to this company/group and ask for their card back b/c they were not aware this was what they were signing up for. Apparently they can get their name off the list of supporters by writing to them.

We have been told that if you accept child care assistance or are on the food program you will AUTOMATICALLY be signed up for the union AND monthly union dues will AUTOMATICALLY be taken from either your food program pmt or your assistance payment.

So here are my questions:
Is anyone familiar with this practice or had this happen in your state?

Is that legal?

Doesn't that promote people not being on the food program and not allowing assistance clients (thus creating even more shortage for those families looking for care)?

Anyone have any clear publicized info from their own unions?

Anyone a union member (daycare only please) and have actually had the union get them things like better health care, etc. ???? Seems like a bunch of bogus to me but maybe someone can shed some light on this.

Are you referring to AFSCME or Child Care Providers Together? I got a postcard telling me about a local meeting coming up and just this morning I got to work and found a provider friend called on the union's behalf and did one of those recorded calls inviting every provider in the area to a meeting tonight at our local union hall. I really didn't plan on attending ...too busy but I will ask my friend what the deal is and any other info I can get outta her...

[marniewon]

Welcome to MI. Ha ha. Yes, they can force you to be part of the union if you accept state-paid clients. No, it is not legal. Do whatever you need to do now to get this union dissolved. Here in MI a bunch of dcp's got together and got a lawyer to fight our forced union. They promised all sorts of things too - better pay, better/cheaper health insurance blah blah blah and did NOTHING to help MI providers - even the ones forced to pay in to the union.

[jojosmommy]

I can't answer whether or not it is legal; at the very least it's shady. I just have no interest in being part of a union. Just my opinion.

Seems like if they represented themselves as the union when they came in your house more people would have turned them away from the get go but the lady that came to my door NEVER said anything about the union. I had already heard about this misrepresenting themselves so I let the lady "blablabla" for about 15 minutes then told her NO! but she never actually came out and said with her own words that was what she was trying to do. Every other daycare lady who Ive talked to said they were TRICKED into signing up- they either didnt know what actually it was or the people outright lied- and most have said they came during lunch- a known busy time when daycare people are already too distracted to focus.

I just want to know the legal part of it. Is it even legal to FORCE people on CCA and the food program to be part of the union and how are they going to track who's dues came out from CCA and not take it again from the food program pmts or vice versa.

[jojosmommy]

Welcome to MI. Ha ha. Yes, they can force you to be part of the union if you accept state-paid clients. No, it is not legal. Do whatever you need to do now to get this union dissolved. Here in MI a bunch of dcp's got together and got a lawyer to fight our forced union. They promised all sorts of things too - better pay, better/cheaper health insurance blah blah blah and did NOTHING to help MI providers - even the ones forced to pay in to the union.

I am already UNFORTUNATELY part of the teachers union and lose $80 a month to union dues. I work PT for the district and still have to pay the $80. Our union hasnt done 1 thing for us so I am already aware of the ridiculousness of their promises. I just hope I don't have to pay 2x for the union to do nothing for me.::

[GretasLittleFriends]

https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13224

I started this thread last spring. It's horrible isn't it??

I wrote a letter to Gov. Dayton. Feel free to use it to fit your needs!!

Gov. Mark Dayton
Office of the Governor
130 State Capitol
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155

RE: Unionizing Child Care

Dear Governor Dayton,

My name is Greta (Last Name). I am a licensed child care provider in (X) County. I am writing this letter to inform you that I do not want anything to do with the Union or becoming unionized. I also do not want to be forced to become unionized because I have county/state assistance children in my care now, in April 2011, or anytime in the future.

Union representatives have been coming to our homes, often times at inconvenient hours (such as lunch time, while trying to serve 6 or more children lunch) and trying to get us to sign signature cards. When the AFSCME representative was here at my home he did not provide much information and had no literature to leave with me. He did quickly mention a website once, but said for more information I could write my name and address on a card and sign it and he would get me the information. I did not complete or sign the card because something didn't seem quite right. Now that I know that was a union signature card I am very glad I did not sign it. He never told me it was a "signature card". I know other providers that did want more information and are now upset because they are not in support of becoming unionized either, especially under false pretenses.

One of the things that bothers me about this idea of unionizing is that family child care providers are independent contractors. I do not understand how independent contractors can be unionized. Union members can and do go on strike. As independent business persons, daycare providers cannot do this, it is considered extortion. When independent businesses join together and begin price fixing and market coercion and doing things like striking, they can end up doing prison time because it's against federal law. It falls under the RICO Act because it is price fixing/gouging or monopolistic control of the marketplace, and is punishable by $20k in fines and up to 25 years in prison per count.

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. I ask that you please take into consideration that I do not want to be unionized and neither do many providers like me.

Sincerely,


Greta (Last Name)
Address

[Missani]

I fell into the same trap! I signed the card for "more information." I especially hate their phone calls. They call during naptime, and if you happen to not pick it up and listen for long enough, they will call you back every 5-10 minutes until you do! That's reason enough not to do it, if you ask me!!!! The problem is that funding is funding, and there isn't enough of it. They can't get cheaper rates or more pay for us...that's why we are self employed. I don't know why any self employed person would want to have a union to tell them how they can make their own money or how they have to run their business. There is a lot of misrepresentation going on, and it is really annoying. I want nothing to do with these people because of their lies!