Michigan Childcare Providers File Federal Appeal Seeking Refunds for Providers Forcefully Unionized
Right to Work Foundation attorneys continue federal class-action lawsuit against union officials to recover millions in illegally confiscated dues
Cincinnati, OH (January 18, 2012) – With free legal assistance from the National Right to Work Foundation, five Michigan home-based childcare providers have filed a federal appeal to win back forced union dues taken from tens of thousands of providers in the state.
Carrie Schlaud, Diana Orr, Peggy Mashke, and Edward and Nora Gross originally filed a federal class-action suit against then-Governor Jennifer Granholm and a United Auto Workers (UAW) and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) coalition, the Child Care Providers Together Michigan (CCPTM) union, for designating home childcare providers who accepted state assistance as public employees solely for the purposes of CCPTM "representation" and forcing them to pay union dues.
Under Granholm's direction, the Michigan Department of Human Services created the Michigan Home Based Child Care Council to provide union officials with an entity to negotiate with as the childcare providers' "management." Working with the council, CCPTM operatives staged a union certification election to acquire monopoly bargaining privileges over Michigan childcare providers.
Although only 15 percent of the 40,000 childcare providers receiving state assistance voted in the union certification election, CCPTM union bosses were then granted monopoly lobbying privileges and the power to collect union dues from home-based care providers.
The five childcare providers won a settlement with Governor Rick Snyder ensuring that Michigan will no longer be able to force home-based childcare providers into union ranks. However CCPTM union officials still possess forced union dues previously collected from tens of thousands of providers.
The plaintiffs and National Right to Work Foundation attorneys are asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit to overturn a lower court's ruling denying the workers class-action status in their quest to obtain refunds from the CCPTM hierarchy.
"Our work won't be over until UAW and AFSCME union bosses are forced to return over two million dollars in forced dues they extracted from unwilling childcare providers since 2008," said Patrick Semmens, Legal Information Director for the National Right to Work Foundation. "No worker should be compelled to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment, which is why Michigan desperately needs Right to Work protections for its workers."
Comments
Do you know that graco
Do you know that graco duoglider double stroller is an excellent double stroller for your children. It is perfect for both infants and for pre-schoolers.
Daycare union dues
Only 4 daycare owners out of 40K are involved with the class action suit? Considering they are receiving free legal counsel it really is a statement of your lack of support. If you really wanted to assit the daycare owners you would spend the time and effort into making sure the have the means to attain the training and education needed to have a safe and secure daycare that can provide an enriched learning enviroment.
Reply
You are full of it Irish Witch--- I am one of those affected. It took me a full year to even find out who was taking 24 bucks per month from me. Out of 40K alleged ballots sent out, only 6K were voted and of those 5.5K approved the union. It turns out that the vast majority of the yes votes came from a single place--DETROIT !! I never received a ballot and dozens of others I spoke to say the same. I am willing to bet that the so-called election was completely rigged. BTW, I get minimum wage--with no raise at all over the past 4 years and no benefits and I get a W-2 which says my son is my employer--not the state. These people are criminals intent on siphoning money from the disabled. There is a special place in hell for the whole bunch.
Economy!
Join the crowd, there are numerous unions who have been w/o raises or increased benefits due to the poor ecomony. It is also our duty to try and bargain in good faith. W-2's are sent from your employer and not a union, so they would have no say in who's listed as your employer. Our union sends out info all the time and it comes back due to numerous individuals who move w/o updating their current info. 5.5k approved the union out of 6k, sounds like the majority are in favor of the union. Now if the vote was closer say 3050 to 2950, then you might have a point. But it's not, out of 6k they were able to secure over 90% of the votes. Out of 40k ballots only 6k voted, do some research and you will find out that elections/votes only recieve 20% participation. So I do not think there was a conspiracy, just that 34k were to busy or didn't really care to vote, happens every election.
Only 4?
Sounds like the other daycare owners are fine with the change, majority rules. I wonder how much is being given under the table to these poor defenseless daycare owners. Maybe their business is hurting from poor employees, and service. That's what happens when you pay some one low wages. You get low quality. I would not take my kids somewhere where the workers live at poverty levels. Now they grabbing at straws wanting some handouts
Perhaps they are so busy
Perhaps they are so busy taking care of other peoples "my kids" that they don't have time to read hundreds of pieces of mail filled with legalese.
Low wages
There always taken care of your kids because they work for low wages. Maybe if they stood up for their right to make decent money they would have more time.
Maybe you should give them a raise. :]