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State Democrats push bill to unionize child care workers

Monday, February 25, 2008 9:42 AM PST

By The Associated Press

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OLYMPIA, Wash. — Democrats who control the Washington Legislature are moving to pass a bill that would unionize about 12,000 child care workers.

Supporters say it would improve the quality of child care. Conservative critics, like Liv Finne of the Center for Education at the Washington Policy Center, say the state is becoming the bill collector for the union.

The bill would allow the day care workers to join either the Service Employees International Union or a separate teachers union. The state would negotiate reimbursement rates for children from low-income families.

The SEIU Local 925 President Kim Cook says the bill would not directly increase wages, but a higher reimbursement rate from the state to day care centers would allow them to pay more in wages.

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STAY OUT wrote on Feb 25, 2008 10:22 AM:

" So what does the Washington State Legislature have to do with child care workers. Why do the politicians think they now need to be in the Unionizing business. I know, it will be something that they can tax in the future!! How does this bit of legislation even remotely come close to any reason that they were elected. STAY OUT OF OUR DAILY LIVES. Find ways to run this state with less taxes, more efficentcy, and less government interference. This sounds like layering on of government intrusion into private business. Will this in any way make the child care workers more effecient? Will it in any way increase the safety of our children? "

bobr wrote on Feb 25, 2008 10:46 AM:

" BACK IN THE USSR BOY...... "

bobr wrote on Feb 25, 2008 11:12 AM:

" Vallejo Ca. On Brink Of Bankruptcy
The problem is basically bloated union contracts
"

Socialists have taken over wrote on Feb 25, 2008 11:49 AM:

" Hey folk's when you keep electing socialist party #1 (Democrats) and Socialist Party #2( Republicans), what do you expect? Capitalism? Get a clue, the US is quickly descending into socialism if not blatant communism. And no-one cares or sees it! "

Oh those Liberals wrote on Feb 25, 2008 12:02 PM:

" Here they go again. They get their campaign bucks from unions so this is only natural. Still not sure how this is a state issue. I would rather see the Liberal Democrats in Olympia do something positive with DHS. I guess doing something that would prevent the state from getting sued for millions every other week is too much to ask. Or should I say it's too difficult for the Liberals to figure out. Takko isn't that smart. "

ggmo wrote on Feb 25, 2008 1:00 PM:

" You gotta be kidding me... "

hokeypokey wrote on Feb 25, 2008 1:10 PM:

" great, now daycare will go up in price..thanks again dems! "

Stephanie wrote on Feb 25, 2008 2:33 PM:

" Seems to me that if the Goverment were really concerned about children's welfare, they would eliminate this "pro-choice" BS, enact a law that would impose criminal charges for those who have abortions, shut down organizations who promote them such as Planned Parenthood, and put more emphasis into our schools to educate our children more on abstinence, rather than throwing condemns on, crossing our fingers and "hoping for the best." Oh wait a second, we're talking about Democrats here. Silly me! That figures. "

Concerned citizen wrote on Feb 25, 2008 3:13 PM:

" The government has NO business in trying to set up a union. Define child care workers - does that include babysitters. If you think this is bad wait until the liberals get into the White House. Everything will be run by the government. "

Gorgeous George wrote on Feb 25, 2008 4:16 PM:

" Readers, and TDN, have only outlined
part of the story. Unionization will mean many restrictions on health care, and unionized state workers have some
of the best LIFETIME benefits that we
don't have, and that WE, the public will have to pay for. All Federal. State, County, and Municipal workers are paid higher than average wages, better than average benefits, and many retirement benefits are free for life. Who pays for that? We do. The public pays for all these excessive benefits through higher taxes, reduced workplace efficiency, and pandering to the unions by politicians so they can fill their bank accounts. This symbiotic relationship between the politicians is what is known is undue influence by special interests. Yes, in this state, unions and politicians are both special interests. Politicians and unions have no problem spending OUR MONEY.
"

jkl wrote on Feb 25, 2008 4:26 PM:

" Good! It's about time childcare workers get paid more than minimum wage! "

Hey jkl wrote on Feb 25, 2008 5:22 PM:

" this is sraight from the article we just read (The SEIU Local 925 President Kim Cook says the bill would not directly increase wages, but a higher reimbursement rate from the state to day care centers would allow them to pay more in wages.) I will repeat the most important parts. The bill would NOT directly increase wages. Would ALLOW them to pay more. This isn't a guarentee that they will get a pay raise. There is a big difference between "will get" and "Allow" Don't get me wrong I agree they should be paid more. Just don't count your chickens before they hatch. "

Why not wrote on Feb 26, 2008 11:25 AM:

" Why not include neighborhood baby sitters to get this union more muscle and hire staff of 100+ at state level to oversight it. "

Good Luck wrote on Feb 26, 2008 12:38 PM:

" Best of luck to you parents who will be dealing with the huge cost increase for care and the low quality of care recieved that will result from this if it goes through. This will make going to work cost prohibitive anyway so I suppose "quality care" won't matter anyway. "

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