Hi, I'm Dr. Steven J. Allen, here to talk about an article by Olivia Grady.
If you had to think of someone who was the ideal example of what it means to be a good
person, who would it be?
It would probably be someone who lives their life to help the disabled.
It would probably be good for society to help that person in return, right?
Unfortunately, the government and the Service Employees International Union are fighting
against that.
In Minnesota, home care providers—also known as personal care assistants (PCAs)—are individuals,
usually family members, who take care of disabled persons at home and who are employed by those
for whom they care.
They receive a small Medicaid subsidy to assist in their efforts.
In May 2013, after the longest legislative debates in state history, the Minnesota legislature
passed the Individual Providers of Direct Support Services Representation Act, and Governor
Mark Dayton (D) signed the bill into law declaring that “For the purposes of the Public Employment
Labor Relations Act … individual [homecare] providers shall be considered … executive
branch state employees.…”
In other words: PCAs—people who provide home care to the disabled, usually family
members—are state employees in Minnesota, but only for the purpose of their possible
representation by unions in collective bargaining.
And so in August 2014, after a vote in which only 21.7 percent of Minnesota PCAs participated
and only just half of them votes yes, SEIU Healthcare Minnesota became the exclusive
bargaining representative for all the PCAs.
If they bargained successfully and got PCAs more money, hey, not so bad, so what most
of them didn’t vote for the union.
Unfortunately, all the SEIU ended up doing was collecting dues from PCAs and eating up
3% of the subsidy they get and need to survive on.
Kris Greene is a five-year PCA in the Lakeville area of Minnesota.
The mother of a daughter with a disability, she has taken care of her daughter for over
24 years.
She appreciates the Medicaid subsidy, she does not want the union to come between
her and the care of her daughter.
She wrote in a newspaper op-ed: “On June 10, 1992, I gave birth to my daughter Meredie.
She was a beautiful baby girl; my husband, Dave, and I couldn’t have been happier or
prouder.
When we were told that Meredie suffered from RubinsteinTaybi syndrome, we knew we were
in for some unique challenges.
But we also knew having her in our lives was more than worth it.
Five years ago, I joined a Minnesota program and became a personal care assistant (PCA)
to my daughter.
Though I had been caring for her for her entire life, joining this PCA program allowed us
to receive a modest Medicaid subsidy to assist in her care.
It also allowed Meredie to live at home, instead of in a government-run institution.
My husband and I consider this public support a generous gift that we have not taken for
granted and for which we are very grateful.
Meredie continues to live at home with us, where we know she is happy and safe under
our care, instead of with a stranger who may or may not have her best interests at heart.
… I don’t need a union to help me take care of my daughter.
And I don’t need a union taking 3% of our money.”
Greene sued the SEIU and the case made it all the way to the Supreme Court.
But, with only 8 members on the court after Justice Scalia’s death, the court deadlocked.
Unfortunately, decertifying a union is much more challenging that certifying one.
But Greene is trying; if this is an issue that affects you, check out MNPCA.org to join
her fight.