ST. PAUL, Minn. — In the halls of the State Capitol building, dozens gathered outside of Gov. Mark Dayton’s office in hopes of sending a message about Personal Care Attendants (PCA).
PCAs, who are often family members taking care of loved ones, were unionized in 2014 – a measure approved by a Democrat-controlled legislature.
These PCAs are reimbursed through a program run by Medicaid that supports in-home care for loved ones.
The latest effort to overturn the 2014 vote is led by the Center for the American Experiment and Minnesota Personal Care Attendants (MNPCA.) (Estimate of number of people) stood outside Dayton’s office as they prepared to hand deliver more than 10,000 cards from PCAs around the state asking for a reversal on a 2014 decision to unionize the industry – almost three times more than initial “yes” votes cast in 2014.
“They did not want the SEIU to represent them, they are not public employees,” State Rep. Steve Drazkowski (R-Mazeppa) said. “They want the choice program restored so they can stop worrying about what the SEIU will do to them next. They want their private data protected and their homes respected.”
Personal Care Attendants stood and shared their personal stories of alleged harassment at the hands of SEIU.
“SEIU showed up to my home at least five times in March 2014,” Sara Madill of Duluth, Minnesota said. “The last time they showed up, I ended up having to threaten to call the police for them to leave me alone”
Madill, who cared for her sister, described the treatment she received at the hands of SEIU as “harassment and bullying.”
The current take from each PCA paycheck is three percent, with Kim Crockett, Vice President at the Center of the American Experiment noting the SEIU has received up to $4.7 million in annual revenue from the paychecks of these men and women.
“It’s our home,” Kris Greene, another PCA caring for her daughter stated. “I’m not happy that SEIU says our home is a union workplace. It’s not.”
MNPCA, which is currently fighting the unionization in court, hopes the signed cards will give way to a new election and/or the 2014 election being declared null and void.
Preya Samsundar
Preya Samsundar was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN. She graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities this Spring with a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology, with a minor in Strategic Communications. Preya has previously worked on several State Campaign Races.
