Union seeks to intervene in child care lawsuit

The union trying to organize government-subsidized child care providers wants to be included in the federal lawsuit aimed at stopping that effort.

AFSCME Council 5 filed a motion with the U.S. District Court to intervene in the case. A hearing on the motion is scheduled for June 17.

Last week, 11 child care providers filed a lawsuit against Gov. Mark Dayton and other state officials. It claims the unionization bill recently passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Dayton is unconstitutional and violates federal labor law. The providers asked the judge to issue a preliminary injunction or a temporary restraining order to prevent a union-representation election from taking place.

In paperwork filed with the court, AFSCME lawyer Gregg Corwin wrote that the union has a statutory right to show that at least 30 percent of the providers support representation. He also called on the court to dismiss the complaint.

The lawsuit does not mention personal care assistants, who are also part of the new unionization law.

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