In-home healthcare union voting closes Monday

The voting window closes today for state-subsidized personal care assistants, who are deciding if they want to form a union.

A estimated 27,000 in-home health care workers were eligible to vote this month on whether to have collective-bargaining representation from the Service Employees International Union.

The State Bureau of Mediation Services will count the ballots on Tuesday.

Union opponents tried to stop the election from moving forward, claiming an infringement on their rights of free political expression and association. But a federal judge denied their request for a preliminary injunction last week. He said the legal challenge was premature because the outcome of the vote is unknown.

A state law enacted in 2013 authorized union elections for both PCAs and in-home child care providers.