Could a Union Be Coming to a Home Near You?

Of all the ridiculous things our government does, I always think I cannot be shocked any more. Not that the forced unionization of self-employed home-based day care providers really shocks me - it's just more ridiculous than any parody I could have come up with.

From the Petosky News-Review in Michigan,

The case of Petoskey day care owner Sherry Loar versus the Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS) is headed to the Michigan Supreme Court.

In the suit, Loar and the other day care providers are challenging DHS after being forced to pay dues to a union as government employees after receiving state subsidy payments provided to low-income families. Operating a day care from her home, Loar currently cares for only one child out of 23 child day care recipients receiving subsidies, but is forced to pay 1.15 percent of those state-received funds back in the form of union dues.

"This isn't about money," Loar said, "This is about setting a precedence that the government can't do this. It's principle, OK."

Her union membership came in the form of a letter in the mail from the state of Michigan one afternoon.

"I do not dislike unions," Loar said. "I'm never asked to vote, and this is my home. There are places that a union is needed, but not in your home. Think about it. How in the world am I supposed to hold a union meeting? I'm management and labor."