MN child care providers reject union effort

Minnesota child care providers have voted overwhelmingly not to form a union.

About 1,400 providers who receive government subsidies took part in the election. They rejected the union by more than a 2-1 margin.

St. Paul child care provider Mary Albert is a representative for Child Care Providers Together, which led the union drive. Albert still hopes providers can eventually unionize for higher subsidy rates and better training.

"One day it's going to overcome," she said. "And it might not be today, and it might not be tomorrow. But one day, even though I'm not in this field, there's going to be a union for child care providers."

The vote covered licensed and unlicensed providers who receive government subsidies. Of just over 2,300 eligible voters, 392 voted in favor of a union and 1,014 voted against.

The providers would have been represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. AFSCME said it doesn't plan to attempt another union vote before the state law authorizing organization expires next year.

Legislation permitting unionization passed during the 2013 session. A lawsuit challenging the bill has a hearing this month.