Cassis sponsors bill to protect privately-employed workers from forced unionization

“Times are tough for small business owners, and they should not have to worry about being forced into a union because they may receive a payment by the state for their services,” said Cassis, R-Novi. “Private business owners, like many child day care providers, have taken a risk to go out on their own. In today’s economy, we should be encouraging more people to start their own businesses. Small business owners should not have the state take money from them to support a union that the workers don’t know, didn’t want and will never see any benefit from.”

In December 2008, approximately 40,000 home day care owners in Michigan received notices in the mail that they were now members of the newly-formed Child Care Providers Together Michigan union, which is a joint venture of the United Auto Workers (UAW) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

“Child day care providers and home health care workers are private employers, not public employees. Labeling them as state employees because they receive state aid is outrageous. Are doctors who take Medicaid patients next?” Cassis said. “My bill will stand up for the individual freedoms of small business owners and will prevent these schemes to force thousands of Michigan residents into paper unions – at taxpayer expense.”

Senate Bill 1173 would clarify that an individual who receives a direct or indirect government subsidy in his or her private employment is not a public employee. The bill states that a public employer or the Michigan Employment Relations Commission shall not hold an election or recognize the results of an election that unionizes private employees.

Cassis’ measure also states that the changes are the original intent of the Legislature and retroactive, which would invalidate the elections that unionized private home health care workers and private child day care providers.

Patrick Wright of the Mackinac Center Legal Foundation said similar unionizing efforts are underway in at least eight other states. Wright calculates that by adding up to 400,000 new members, the unions could generate $37 million in dues.

SB 1173 was referred to the Senate Families and Human Services Committee for consideration.