Livingston Today

State Representative Ann Bollin has expressed significant concerns regarding the implications of Senate Bills 790 and 791, which were signed into law by the governor. These laws now classify caregivers under Michigan’s Home Help Program as public employees for collective bargaining purposes. They mandate attendance at union orientations within 45 days and strongly encourage union membership.

“Michigan families rely on the flexibility of the current system to provide the best care for their loved ones,” stated Bollin, R-Brighton Township. She believes that these laws add complexity and burden caregivers and families who are already managing care demands and financial pressures. Bollin warned that encouraging union membership could compromise the personalized care that many depend on.

The Home Help Program offers Medicaid-funded personal care services for elderly and disabled individuals in Michigan. Families often hire their own caregivers, including relatives, to meet specific needs. Bollin noted that the new legislation requires caregivers to engage in union activities, potentially deterring some from caregiving amidst an existing shortage of professionals.

“We’re facing a shortage of caregivers in Michigan, and these bills would make it worse,” Bollin remarked. She fears that mandatory union orientations might lead some workers to leave caregiving altogether, affecting both professional caregivers and family members caring for relatives. According to her, efforts should focus on supporting caregivers rather than complicating their roles or reducing their earnings through union dues.

In 2012, similar attempts to unionize caregivers were rejected by Michigan voters when a ballot measure was defeated by a substantial margin.

“The people of Michigan already spoke on this issue,” Bollin asserted. “We need to respect that decision and support policies that offer choice and flexibility to families instead of reviving failed ideas from the past.”

The passage of Senate Bills 790 and 791 occurred along partisan lines, with opposition from Republicans and organizations such as AARP.