AUGUSTA — The Maine House voted 76-66 Monday to support a bill that removes the collective bargaining rights for private child care providers who receive state subsidies.
The bill, L.D. 1894, passed the Senate last week and has now earned House approval. After another round of voting, the bill will go to Gov. Paul LePage, who supports the measure.
The bill repeals a law passed by the Democratic-controlled Legislature in 2008 to allow providers who are not state employees, but receive state subsidies, to unionize. About 200 of the state’s 1,300 family childcare providers have joined the Maine State Employees Association for union representation.
During House debate, Rep. Kerri Prescott, R-Topsham, said child care providers are not state workers, so they should not be entitled to unionize in an effort to negotiate with the state.
“This bill is about consistency and restoring that consistency,” she said.
Democrats said the child care providers need a voice at the State House to ensure they are paid on time and that they can give input into state regulations. Unlike other private sector workers, they cannot easily take time off to come lobby the Legislature, said Rep. Rob Hunt, D-Buxton.
“We should do all we can to support them,” he said. “Happy providers lead to happy children, which leads to happy families.”
After a party line 7-6 committee vote, the Senate voted 19-16 in favor of the bill. Sen. Roger Katz, R-Augusta, was the only Republican to vote with Democrats against removing collective bargaining rights for child care workers. Independent Sen. Richard Woodbury of Yarmouth voted for the bill.
The House vote was largely, but not entirely, along party lines, with Republicans voting in favor and most Democrats voting against. Monday’s action follows another bill that was approved recently to remove collective bargaining rights for workers at the former DeCoster egg farm in Turner.
On the child care provider issue, supporters described it as unusual for a certain segment of private businesses to have collective bargaining rights with the state while others do not. Maine is one of eight states that allows family childcare providers to collectively bargain, according to MSEA.
Opponents, such as Rep. Erin Herbig, D-Belfast, said the bill passed a few years ago was intended to help child care providers. The bill to repeal that right won’t create jobs or stimulate the economy, she said.
“With them not having to come down here, they are able to focus on delivering high quality child care,” she said.
LePage’s spokeswoman, Adrienne Bennett, said Monday that the governor believes the providers are independent businesses “and they ought to be treated as such.”
Susan Cover — 620-7015
scover@mainetoday.com
Send questions/comments to the editors.
