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| Date: | November 14, 2011 | | Contact Name: | Chris Van Guilder | | Contact Phone: | 651-296-1388 | | Contact Email: | christopher.vanguilder@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| STATEMENT FROM SENATOR PARRY ON REPORTS THAT GOV DAYTON MAY AUTHORIZE A VOTE TO UNIONIZE CHILD DAY CARE PROVIDERS |
(ST. PAUL) -- Sen. Mike Parry (R-Waseca), Chairman of the Senate State Government Innovation and Veterans Committee, issued the following statement in response to reports that Gov. Dayton may issue an executive order to authorize a vote to unionize child day care providers.
“Gov. Dayton and union representatives are attempting to unionize home day care providers in Minnesota, a move that would affect 11,000 privately-owned providers and the 130,000 children they care for. The state legislature held multiple legislative hearings to gather more information on the questions of legality, process and consequence of what this would mean for these privately owned businesses, but Gov. Dayton prevented his administration from providing testimony or answering any of our questions. Consequently, we are left with more questions than answers.
“Our reading of current law makes clear that private, home-based child care providers are not public employers or employees and therefore do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Mediation Services and are not subject to public employee labor relations law. It appears the governor may be outside his jurisdiction in authorizing a vote, and we question whether or not he has the power to do so.
“Given what little information supporters offered at legislative hearings and the legal questions that remain, this is being pursued without regard to the law or the costs to families and the public.
“I urge the governor to cease his pursuit of unionizing home day care through executive action. As Chair of the Senate State Government Innovation and Veterans Committee, I am committed to ensuring that any steps taken by the governor, his administration or the Bureau of Mediation Services in regard to this issue are in accordance with the law, and I will use any means, including legal action, to do so.”
Latest report on Gov. Dayton’s potential decision to issue an executive order to authorize a vote to unionize child day care providers:
http://kstp.com/news/stories/S2371151.shtml?cat=1
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