SUIT OPPOSES O'MALLEY ON CHILD CARE UNION

http://www.times-news.com/local/local_story_281092110.html

Sarah Moses
Cumberland Times-News

CUMBERLAND - Though a decision is still pending on a lawsuit to block an executive order by Gov. Martin O'Malley to allow for the unionization of child care, local providers are waiting for the ruling they feel could influence their profession.

"Providers are sole proprietors, not employees of the state," Karen Anderson, president of the Allegany County Child Care Professionals Association and LaVale area provider, said. "We get our Purchase of Care checks. If (the Service Employees International Union) gets in, we will see union dues taken out of our checks before we get them."

The suit is arguing that the governor does not have the right to extend bargaining rights to people who are not employees of the state.

The current issue began when O'Malley signed an executive order (01.01.2007.14) on Aug. 6 that would recognize a union based upon the Purchase of Care Program (POC), a state subsidy program to provide lower income working parents with the funding for care for their children. Following that, on Sept. 20, the Maryland State Family Child Care Association and eight family child care providers filed a declaratory judgment in Cecil County Circuit Court against O'Malley and the state.

The issue, which has gone to courts twice since then, continues to be one of debate to determine if POC is enough to classify child care providers as part of the governor's jurisdiction to allow for unionization.

Should the union become the recognized representative for providers under POC, there are several concerns for those locally, as all POC participating providers would be paying union dues to the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

FULL story at link.