Child care union suprises some providers

TOPEKA, Kansas - Child care providers across the state of Kansas say they're surprised to learn they have a new voice in the state capitol.

Some say they want nothing to do with it.

The new voice is a union is called Child Care Providers Together.

Despite recent budget cuts to existing programs for children, state officials gave the union $1.5 million dollars in stimulus funding.

It's causing a controversy that flares up every time more child care providers find out about this new union.

Some child care providers consider themselves both labor and management.

A dozen local providers gathered for a group interview to explain why they don't want a union.

"The union's not going to help me at all. I'm self-employed, there's no benefit I'm going to gain from it," said Rose Grimes, a day care provider who is against unionization.

The new union, CCPT is part of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees which is the most powerful and fastest growing union under the AFL CIO federation of unions.

Kansas local president Ceola Witt runs a day care in Wyandotte County and says the union is needed.

"There are a lot of people who have experienced difficulties with the state in maintaining their license. And being aware of the requirements and managing their business. There are people who do need help," said Witt.

Last year CCPT signed a three year contract with the state.

Recently, the Kansas Secretary of the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services gave the new union the $1.5 million in stimulus funding, rather than directing that money to existing state programs.

Opponents see it as start up money for the union.

SRS Secretary Don Jordan disagrees.

"To me it's funding activities, not creating a program. It's a one shot, that will go to improve quality," said Jordan.

Jordan says the money goes to grants to pay for improvements to daycare homes and to free training available to all providers - union member or not.

Witt says a recent training session in Kansas City, Kansas had about 200 attendees.

Another is scheduled at Johnson County Community College on July 31.

Registration for that training session has already reached capacity.

"...professional development classes that we're having at this time. We have about nine scheduled," said Witt, the union leader.

Inside the state Capitol, Republican lawmakers see the union contract, and the stimulus funding, as payback for union support of the Democratic administration.

Former governor Kathleen Sebelius issued the executive order giving the union permission to organize.

"I don't think that the state should be in the business of organizing unions, and I don't think that unions should be given the responsibility of oversight over day care facilities or anything else for that matter," said Peggy Mast, a Republican state representative from Emporia.

Mast says she'll renew her fight against the union in January, when a Republican adminstration is expected to take office.

"It was brought on by pressure and deceit, and I don't think we should let it rest," said Mast.

In the meantime, independent day care owners tell stories of intimidation by union recruiters and worry about retailation if they don't join.

"No allegation like that has been brought to me. If we got that allegation, we would investigate it," said Jordan.

Jordan says any provider can contact the state directly, without going through the union.

Union leaders say out of the more than 6,600 in-home child care providers in the state, only about one hundred have joined CCPT.
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They plan a membership drive, but state officials stress that Kansas is a right to work state, and no one is required to join the union.

While locally only 100 providers have joined up so far, AFSCME spokesman Joe Lawrence tells us, 703 providers across the state have taken advantage of training provided by the grant money including learning CPR, first aid, safe sleep, and identifying abuse and neglect.

Kansas is one of 13 states that have government authorized union representation through AFSCME for daycare providers and in some cases senior care providers, too. Eight, including Kansas, have contracts.

AFSCME is part of the AFL-CIO Federation of Unions which, in 2009, called it their most powerful and fastest growing union.