Massachusetts Child Care Unionization Will Hurt Parents
Click here to download official release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Brian M Johnson
8 NOVEMBER 2007
202-785-0266
Unionized Child Care Will Increase Costs
Massachusetts Parents Will Pay More if Providers Unionize
Washington, D.C. — Today, the Alliance for Worker Freedom (AWF) condemned the recent day care unionization efforts in Massachusetts by the Services Employees International Union (SEIU). Since 2005, 10 states have allowed providers to unionize and three states, Washington, Illinois and Oregon, have approved union contracts. The New York efforts are pending implementation and the Maryland battle is tied up in a court room battle over the increase in costs.
“Many child-care providers work from their home and are independent contractors”, says AWF policy director Brian Johnson, , “by allowing and setting the precedent that independent contractors can be classified as government-state employees and afforded wage bargaining through a union is outrageous! Not only would this set dangerous precedent, but the market forces required to maintain a balance of access, affordability and quality will be thrown by the wayside.”
This is not the first attempt the SEIU has made at unionizing child care providers. Their most recent efforts in Maryland have created much controversy due to their tactics of intimidation and harassment. The Maryland case is currently pending as the Maryland State Family Child Care Association brought forth a lawsuit against this effort claiming “representation will increase costs for home day care providers.”
“In past cases, there are actual state-based child care groups opposing this effort. The unions are after nothing more than membership dues while reputable, state children groups go unheard,” Johnson says. “Unions are representatives, and in this case, they represent the child-care provider, NOT the child. Therefore, they will bargain on behalf of the business rather than what is the child’s best interest.”
