Vilsack and SEIU at odds (child care providers and AFSCME)

[Debi]

A potential Democratic presidential candidate, IA Gov. Tom Vilsack has earned the temporary enmity of one of the nation's most powerful labor unions because they believe that rules he sanctioned appeared to weaken collective bargaining rights of child care providers -- and may have favored another a rival union seeking to organize those same workers.

The Service Employees International Union, which claims about 3,000 active members in Iowa, ran a radio ad last week calling Vilsack's actions "undemocratic."

In Jan., thousands of child care providers formally signaled their preference to join a union -- what unions term a "card check." That's after Vilsack signed an executive order requiring the state to bargain with the providers. Both SEIU and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal employees campaigned for the cards of workers and each turned in thousands.

Vilsack spelled out the procedure an independent mediator will use to decide which union turned in the most cards. Vilsack also signed an executive order splitting the pool of workers in two -- one pool representing registered workers like licensed day care providers and the others representing those who are not registered but eligible for state subsidies.

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http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/02/seiu_and_vilsac.html#more