Home-care workers await union election results

Published 9:57 am Tuesday, August 26, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS — A union seeking to organize thousands of home care workers is about to find out whether it succeeded.

Service Employees International Union is organizing under a law passed last year covering workers who provide personal care for the elderly and disabled.

The union election has so far survived a legal challenge by nine state-subsidized home care workers who say it’s unconstitutional. A federal judge last week declined to halt the election, and said workers wouldn’t be required to join if the union is certified.

Email newsletter signup

The state has nearly 27,000 such providers. Some have complained that it’s difficult to make ends meet because of low wages and lack of benefits.