Unions Seeing Green In The Green Mountain State

by Alex Habighorst on April 3, 2013 · 0 comments

in Labor

In Vermont, the right to own one’s own business, in particular in home care work is coming under attack. Small business owners, and independent contractors are in the sights of a Vermont bill that will force them into a union as well as to pay union dues. CEI Labor Policy Analyst Trey Kovacs explains further over at the VT Digger:

Well, the state of Vermont believes it and its union partners know best when it comes to providing care for the elderly and disabled. Senate Bill 59, which already passed the Vermont Senate, puts elected officials and union bosses in charge of setting standards for in-home care. If enacted the bill would force the more than 6,000 home-care workers — comprised of small business owners, independent contractors and family members — to pays dues to a union whether they like it or not.

These attempts to forcibly unionized America’s home care workers is not novel to the Green Mountain State, but is a fight being played out across America:

For example, SEIU union boss Tyrone Freeman, president of a Los Angeles-area local representing 190,000 home-care workers, recently was found guilty of 14 counts of embezzlement. According to the Los Angeles Times, the low-wage caregivers also sued Freeman – who made $200,000 per year – demanding restitution of more than $1.1 million in dues money he reportedly on high-end liquor, parties and expenses from his Hawaii wedding in 2006....To Read More....