REP. KIEL: WHAT CHILDCARE PROVIDER UNIONIZATION MEANS FOR YOUR FAMILY
St. Paul—State Representative Deb Kiel, R-Crookston, said House Democrats passed overreaching legislation in the final hours of session that would force the unionization of childcare providers and personal care attendants (PCAs) providing services to low-income families.
Rep. Kiel explained that the unionization of these independent small business owners and providers would result in higher costs and fewer choices for working parents and those receiving care, especially in rural Minnesota.
“If unionized, childcare providers and PCAs would be considered government employees and be required by law to pay union dues or fair share fees,” Kiel said. “Local childcare business owners and care providers have told me these extra costs would force them to raise their rates or shut their doors. As a result, low-income families will have fewer choices for these critical services.”
Kiel continued: “In rural Minnesota, it’s already hard enough to find openings for childcare and availability for in-home care, so I’m concerned that forced unionization will have an even greater impact on our area of the state.”
Kiel noted that 86 percent of childcare providers said they opposed unionization in a survey conducted by the Minnesota Licensed Family Child Care Association. These results are in line with a legislative survey conducted by Kiel earlier this year, in which 90 percent of respondents said they opposed the unionization effort.
“At the end of the day, this bill is unwanted, unnecessary, and an unprecedented overreach. Childcare providers already have the option to join a union in Minnesota, but this bill forces the issue at the will of labor leaders in St. Paul,” Kiel said. “Minnesotans did not elect us to do this kind of work, especially before we passed a complete budget.”
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State Rep. Deb Kiel serves District 1B, which includes the counties of Polk, Pennington and Red Lake.