MONTPELIER, Vt. -
A controversial
plan to allow child care providers to unionize has hit a roadblock in the
Vermont Senate.
The bill would allow
independent child care operators to band together for the purposes of
negotiating subsidies and regulations with the state. Supporters say it will
give providers a stronger voice in Montpelier. But opponents don't want to lose
their independence.
The idea has been
discussed for three years and has the strong support of Gov. Peter Shumlin. But
Tuesday the bill was rejected by the Senate Economic Development Committee on a
3-2 vote.
"It
was a bill that would have set a dangerous precedent, in that it was only going
to unionize those people who were small business proprietors. And it was
discriminatory in that fashion that their employees would not have been
considered, nor would have employees by centers," said Sen. Kevin Mullen,
R-Rutland County.
Senators
worried that other groups-- like landlords who receive rent subsidies-- could
use the same model to form collective bargaining units.
