WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pamela Harris says she had one reason for going to battle with the powerful Service Employees International Union.
“ … I don’t want anyone to get between me and caring for my son,” Harris said Monday, shortly after learning the U.S. Supreme Court dealt a blow to government unions that sought to organize home-care workers and others not directly employed by government.
The high court ruled 5-4 that groups, such as home-care workers, cannot be compelled to pay representation fees or dues to labor unions.
Harris, a Lake County mother, is caring for her adult disabled son, Josh, and receiving assistance from the state of Illinois to do so.
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn issued an executive order designating Harris and other home-care workers as “state employees” for the purpose of joining a union.
Service Employees International Union, a political ally of the governor, then began trying to organize the workers.
“I think there is a very unhealthy relationship between politicians and the unions,” Harris said. “I only wish Governor Quinn had listened to us five years ago when we said we didn’t want to join the union.”
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