Dear neighbor,
On Wednesday we received word from the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals (the federal appeals court for Minnesota) that the injunction for the childcare unionization law will remain in place. Until the Eighth Circuit makes a decision on the lawsuit challenging the childcare unionization law or the U.S. Supreme Court decides Harris v. Quinn (a similar lawsuit based out of Illinois) – whichever occurs first – childcare unionization is on hold in Minnesota.
This lawsuit began after Governor Dayton signed the childcare unionization bill into law after it was forced through the House and passed by a single vote. Childcare providers challenged the law in federal district court. While the lawsuit and the motion for an injunction of the law were dismissed in federal district court, the childcare providers appealed. As part of the appeal, childcare providers sought an injunction of the law. Initially, the Eighth Circuit ordered the injunction until the U.S. Supreme Court made a decision as to whether it would take up Harris v. Quinn. That legal challenge relates to a law in Illinois with similarities to the Minnesota unionization law.
After the U.S. Supreme Court announced it was planning to take up Harris v. Quinn, AFSCME sought to lift the injunction. The Eighth Circuit denied that motion.
I anticipate this law will be hung up in court in the months ahead. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to make a decision on Harris v. Quinn by June of 2014. In the mean time, I will continue to advocate for hardworking moms, dads, and childcare providers who cannot afford the higher costs and fewer options unionization would impose.
As always, please feel free to contact me by e-mail at Rep.Mary.Franson@House.MN or contact my office at 651-296-3201. You can also send mail to my office address: 211 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.
Sincerely,
Mary