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Judge hears arguments in child care union vote

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Dec 5, 2011 at 11:49 am

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Opponents of an upcoming election to unionize Minnesota home-based child care providers are asking a judge to stop the vote. Ramsey County Judge Dale Lindman heard the request Monday to suspend the mail vote due to start this week.

Lawyer Tom Revnew argued that Gov. Mark Dayton's order spurring the vote is outside the Democrat's executive powers. Revnew says affected providers are small business owners and employers who aren't subject to collective organizing.

Only a fraction of the 11,000 in-home providers are being allowed to vote on unionization. Ballots are going to about 4,300 providers who care for children eligible for state care subsidies.

Union attorneys and lawyers for the state were expected to defend the order and the vote during Monday's hearing. The judge is expected to quickly rule on the temporary injunction request.