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Dayton order has forces mustering at Capitol
Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton signed an executive order on Tuesday, Nov. 15 calling for an election among child care providers relating to unionization. But the order may first have a date in court.
The governor’s action comes after months of debate at the State Capitol concerning daycare unionization, something governors in other states have ordered solely by executive order, Dayton explained.
But given a dispute exists among Minnesota day care providers over the merits of unionization, “the fairest way, the American way, resolve that dispute with election,” Dayton said.
Ballots would be sent by the Bureau of Mediation Service in December to affected providers — licensed, registered, subsidized, family care providers — with the idea election results would be tabulated on Dec. 21.
The administration estimates that between 4,500 and 5,300 day care providers in the Minnesota would be included in the vote.
No one will be forced to join a union, Dayton said. No one in a non-unionized day care would be forced to pay union dues, he said.
What It Means
Pro union day care activist, such as Lisa Thompson, a St. Paul day care provider and Child Care Providers Together spokeswoman, views unionization as a means of providing stability to a struggling industry.
By banning together, day care providers will be better able to negotiate with government officials on the rules and regulations imposed on them — regulations that impact costs, she said.
Unionization will not mean parents will be paying higher costs for child care, Thompson argued.
“We are in control of our rates now. And we will be in control of our rates after we have a union,” she said, speaking outside the Governor’s Office.
Other Views
But other day care providers view things differently.
Pat Gentz, of Pat’s Precious People Family Child Care in Lakeville, expressed disappointment over Dayton’s executive order.
Gentz believes holding the election is unfair, because only those day care providers accepting state subsidies would be allowed to vote.
Yet the issues that a daycare union would be negotiating, assuming a union is formed, would affect all of Minnesota’s 11,000 day care providers, she said.
If there’s going to be a ballot, then all day care providers, not just a subset, should be included in the vote, said Gentz, who has testified at the State Capitol.
“That’s the only fair way,” she said.
Gentz and several other day care providers opposed to a vote met with Dayton last Thursday evening to discuss the issue. She believed Dayton had already made up his mind by then.
“I’m just so disappointed,” Gentz said of the governor’s action.
Dayton said he would respect the results of the election whatever the outcome.
Still, the governor has long believed day care providers are overworked and underpaid — a belief that goes back to when his sons were in day care in Minneapolis, he said.
“I see advantages to that,” he said of unionization. “I’m in favor of unions, generally,” Dayton said.
Illegal Move, GOP Says
Republican legislative leaders argue that Dayton’s executive order is illegal.
“It’s just another ‘Merry Christmas’ gift from our governor which will create more government intrusion in the lives of our independent businesses,” said Sen. Mike Parry, R-Waseca, Senate State Government Innovations and Veterans Committee chairman.
Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chairman David Hann, R-Edina, said Dayton is acting illegally.
“I think the real question for us is what do you do with a governor who won’t follow the law,” said Hann, who has found other Dayton actions in recent days nettlesome.
Hann said Senate Republicans are currently conferring with legal counsel.
The chairman argues that the state mediation service, for one thing, has no jurisdiction to be holding an election for a group of people who are not state employees.
Both Hann and Perry, the latter a 1st Congressional District candidate, said that Republicans would take legal actions to halt the election.
Hann depicted the legal battle as a struggle between Dayton and the Legislature.
Other Points
For his part, Dayton believes he has the necessary authority to call an election.
“We’re proceeding with the belief we do have that authority,” he said.
In 13 other states governors ordered the formation of day care unions without any vote, Dayton explained.
A simple majority vote will decided whether daycare providers can unionize — union officials believe the vote will be successful.
If a union is created, state commissioners will be required to meet in good faith with day care union officials, conferring with them on such things as standards and rating systems, training opportunities, reimbursement rates, other topics of mutual concern.
Should a day care union form, Service Employee International Union Local 284 is seeking to represent daycare providers in Anoka, Dakota, Houston and Wright counties.
The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council 5 is seeking to represent daycare providers in Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Sherburne and Washington counties.
Wow.
Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton signed an executive order on Tuesday, Nov. 15 calling for an election among child care providers relating to unionization. But the order may first have a date in court.
The governor’s action comes after months of debate at the State Capitol concerning daycare unionization, something governors in other states have ordered solely by executive order, Dayton explained.
But given a dispute exists among Minnesota day care providers over the merits of unionization, “the fairest way, the American way, resolve that dispute with election,” Dayton said.
Ballots would be sent by the Bureau of Mediation Service in December to affected providers — licensed, registered, subsidized, family care providers — with the idea election results would be tabulated on Dec. 21.
The administration estimates that between 4,500 and 5,300 day care providers in the Minnesota would be included in the vote.
No one will be forced to join a union, Dayton said. No one in a non-unionized day care would be forced to pay union dues, he said.
What It Means
Pro union day care activist, such as Lisa Thompson, a St. Paul day care provider and Child Care Providers Together spokeswoman, views unionization as a means of providing stability to a struggling industry.
By banning together, day care providers will be better able to negotiate with government officials on the rules and regulations imposed on them — regulations that impact costs, she said.
Unionization will not mean parents will be paying higher costs for child care, Thompson argued.
“We are in control of our rates now. And we will be in control of our rates after we have a union,” she said, speaking outside the Governor’s Office.
Other Views
But other day care providers view things differently.
Pat Gentz, of Pat’s Precious People Family Child Care in Lakeville, expressed disappointment over Dayton’s executive order.
Gentz believes holding the election is unfair, because only those day care providers accepting state subsidies would be allowed to vote.
Yet the issues that a daycare union would be negotiating, assuming a union is formed, would affect all of Minnesota’s 11,000 day care providers, she said.
If there’s going to be a ballot, then all day care providers, not just a subset, should be included in the vote, said Gentz, who has testified at the State Capitol.
“That’s the only fair way,” she said.
Gentz and several other day care providers opposed to a vote met with Dayton last Thursday evening to discuss the issue. She believed Dayton had already made up his mind by then.
“I’m just so disappointed,” Gentz said of the governor’s action.
Dayton said he would respect the results of the election whatever the outcome.
Still, the governor has long believed day care providers are overworked and underpaid — a belief that goes back to when his sons were in day care in Minneapolis, he said.
“I see advantages to that,” he said of unionization. “I’m in favor of unions, generally,” Dayton said.
Illegal Move, GOP Says
Republican legislative leaders argue that Dayton’s executive order is illegal.
“It’s just another ‘Merry Christmas’ gift from our governor which will create more government intrusion in the lives of our independent businesses,” said Sen. Mike Parry, R-Waseca, Senate State Government Innovations and Veterans Committee chairman.
Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chairman David Hann, R-Edina, said Dayton is acting illegally.
“I think the real question for us is what do you do with a governor who won’t follow the law,” said Hann, who has found other Dayton actions in recent days nettlesome.
Hann said Senate Republicans are currently conferring with legal counsel.
The chairman argues that the state mediation service, for one thing, has no jurisdiction to be holding an election for a group of people who are not state employees.
Both Hann and Perry, the latter a 1st Congressional District candidate, said that Republicans would take legal actions to halt the election.
Hann depicted the legal battle as a struggle between Dayton and the Legislature.
Other Points
For his part, Dayton believes he has the necessary authority to call an election.
“We’re proceeding with the belief we do have that authority,” he said.
In 13 other states governors ordered the formation of day care unions without any vote, Dayton explained.
A simple majority vote will decided whether daycare providers can unionize — union officials believe the vote will be successful.
If a union is created, state commissioners will be required to meet in good faith with day care union officials, conferring with them on such things as standards and rating systems, training opportunities, reimbursement rates, other topics of mutual concern.
Should a day care union form, Service Employee International Union Local 284 is seeking to represent daycare providers in Anoka, Dakota, Houston and Wright counties.
The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council 5 is seeking to represent daycare providers in Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Sherburne and Washington counties.
Wow.
TCS Auto-X Driver
What a piece of shit. 
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