Child-care providers can form unions Gov. Strickland signs executive order

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/02/05/CHILD_UNION.ART_ART_02-05-08_B3_CQ98TO0.html?sid=101

Tuesday, February 5, 2008 3:06 AM
By Alan Johnson
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

The second new union authorized to organize by Gov. Ted Strickland in the past seven months will be in contract talks with the state during tough budget times this year.

The bargaining unit, representing an estimated 8,000 home-based child-care providers, will be part of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

So far, AFSCME is the only union attempting to organize child-care providers. Through an affiliate, Child Care Providers Together, the union represents 150,000 similar workers in 10 states.

Strickland, a Democrat with close ties to labor, signed an executive order Friday empowering the home child-care providers to organize.

It came a day after he announced the first round of cuts aimed at offsetting a projected state budget shortfall of up to $1.9 billion.

Last July, Strickland signed a similar order allowing union organizing by about 7,000 home-health workers who provide care for low-income elderly and disabled Ohioans. That group was subsequently organized by the Service Employees International Union, which is now in contract negotiations with the Strickland administration.

FULL story at link.