NEW: R.I. Taxpayers Calls for Stop Of Daycare Unionization Vote
Sunday, October 06, 2013
The statewide taxpayer advocacy organization Rhode Island Taxpayers has called for the cancellation of a daycare unionization vote pending a U.S. Supreme Court decision—citing the negative impact that it could have on homecare and day care providers in Rhode Island.
"The decision that the U.S. Supreme Court eventually issues in this case may well set the precedent for state unionization laws around the country pertaining to homecare and day care providers, including Rhode Island's", R.I. Taxpayers spokesperson Monique Chartier said.
Background
Following upon the General Assembly's passage this year of a law permitting home daycare providers to unionize, Rhode Island's State Labor Relations Board has been planning to hold an election for providers to determine whether they wish to be exclusively represented by the SEIU.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTHowever, the announcement by the U.S. Supreme Court last week that it will take up the matter of whether Illinois' forced unionization law violates the rights of free expression and association of homecare providers is a very significant legal development, according to R.I. Taxpayers.
Last week, Mike Stenhouse of the Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity cited the "legal morass" that may result from a hurried election by Rhode Island home daycare providers under the new law that "may soon be ruled as unconstitutional" by the highest court in the country.
"Mike is right to be concerned about the impact on Rhode Island of the decision by the Supreme Court to hear the Illinois case", said Chartier. "R.I. Taxpayers calls upon the State Labor Relations Board to cancel the election until the Supreme Court issues a decision. We believe that it would be misguided and very irresponsible of the state to hold an election until this significant legal question has been settled."
About RI Taxpayers
Founded in 2003, Rhode Island Taxpayers advocates for honest, effective, and fiscally sound government on behalf of Rhode Island taxpayers. Formerly known as RI Statewide Coalition, the group was spun out of a South County oriented watchdog group called the “RI Shoreline Coalition”.
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