Sampson Slams Effort to Force Unionization On Care Providers

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's executive orders forcing unionization on personal care and day care workers are unconstitutional and unwanted by the workers themselves, state Rep. Rob Sampson (R-Southington) said.

On Tuesday, a bill amended to include the executive orders passed the state House of Representatives largely on party lines after it had been defeated in committee for the second straight year.

Three lawsuits challenging the bill's constitutionality and charging that Malloy overstepped his authority have been filed, and Sampson and state Sen. Joseph Markley (R-Southington) are plaintiffs in two of them. Sampson said in a news release that the bill "allows for no checks and balances on the administration."

If signed into law, the bill would grant the two unions the ability to collectively bargain with the state.

“I believe this bill is based on a faulty premise. The bill requires that majority representatives have been established and are now lobbying for the ability to collectively bargain with the state. I submit that this is not nor has ever been the case and until the court cases regarding these Executive Orders are adjudicated, the Connecticut General Assembly cannot legitimately determine whether legitimate majority representatives have been established,” Sampson said in the release. “The Governor’s administration has repeatedly claimed that the Executive Orders were not binding.  Yet, this bill relies on the Executive Orders to have established the necessary process for unionization so that this request for the ability to collectively bargain can occur.

"I believe this unionization will result in major changes in both the day care and personal care attendant industries that will hurt small business owners and the most vulnerable members of our society” Sampson said.