A post by Pat
In-home caregivers in Illinois receive a state stipend. Gov. Pat Quinn signed an executive order in June allowing collective bargaining by “individual providers of home-based support services.” Now caretakers of sick relatives are receiving phone calls and unannounced visits to their homes from union reps. SEIU and AFSCME are competing to sign up these people who never asked for collective bargaining.
Unions say they have met the minimum requirements of interest to hold an election. If the SEIU or AFSCME receive enough votes, those who voted not to join a union will have to pay “fair share’ dues. The unions promise they can increase the monthly stipend for these caregivers. The union dues would be up to 2 percent of the monthly stipend.
Families who hire employees are concerned they will lose control over decisions about the care of their family member.
Organized labor recruits in-home caregivers
Pam Harris of Western Springs said she will vote against joining a union and is angry over what she calls “strong-arm tactics.” She worries about what will happen if she is forced to join a union as a caregiver for her son, Josh, 20, who has a rare genetic syndrome that causes cognitive and physical disabilities.
“I need that money for my son,” said Harris, who spends $1,400 a month on medical insurance for her son. Organizers showed up at her doorstep on a recent Sunday morning, she said.
“I am not an employee of the state,” Harris said. “I work from my home. I don’t want the union in my home. I can Norma Rae with the rest of them.”
This isn’t a new idea although it is clearly an attempt for unions to expand their ranks.
In-home caregivers for people with disabilities and senior citizens have organized in at least a dozen states, including Iowa, Maryland, Michigan and Pennsylvania, according to an SEIU representative.
Several years ago, organized labor launched a similar campaign to unionize child-care workers in Illinois. In 2005 SEIU won the right to represent 49,000 in-home providers serving children whose fees were covered by state and federal funds.
Then- Gov. Rod Blagojevich ordered the state to negotiate, resulting in a $250 million, 39-month contract with SEIU that raised providers’ daily rates an average of 35 percent and brought them health coverage.
For that reason, not everyone opposes the effort to organize caregivers.
Another instance of friendly politicians opening up opportunities for their union buddies. Kathy Keith who takes care of her son with Down syndrome wants to know, “Are you saying I can go on strike and not wipe my son’s rear end?” A question many politicians never ask about themselves when it comes to the unions.
It sounds like the same unionzation attempt like that at the UW-Seattle (by the UAW for students working in the lab) that is taking place for in-home caregivers…oh geez.
BTW-isn’t paying ‘fair-share’ dues a form of involuntary servitude to the union?
Scatological Posts.. Pat — loved poop scoops for today!
Man where was the AFL-CIO/SEIU/NEA?or whatever initials you want to use, when I was a caregiver for my former sis-in-law? I had to change her diaper and feed her every am on my break from driving a school bus- did I mention she had brain damage & could be verbally abusive to you. Boy i would have picketed in my front yard to avoid wiping her butt, changing her diapers & feeding her until I was treated with respect! If you don’t like caregiving get another job.
Unions are just another tentacle of the govt. over reaching into OUR lives then getting $$$ to do it.
I guess we’ll see just how smart the american (& apparently the dead & illegal immigrants) people are when it comes to voting time next year. No more poop cleaning for me I am on strike!