Dayton Won’t Fight Loss in Child Care Union Case

ST. PAUL  (AP) - Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton says he won't fight a court ruling that blocked a unionization vote he called for home-based child care workers.

Dayton said Tuesday that he disagrees with the April decision but opted not to appeal it. A Ramsey County judge said the Democratic governor had overstepped his bounds by calling the election via an executive order rather than going through the Legislature.

The development further stalls a collective bargaining push by unions trying to organize child care providers. The election was supposed to take place in December, but a judge first halted balloting and later quashed the Dayton order altogether.

President Lisa Thompson of AFSCME Child Care Providers Together says Dayton "respects our democratic right to decide for ourselves whether or not we want a union."

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