Wolf accused of trying to unionize home health care workers

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — An executive order issued by Gov. Tom Wolf to address shortcomings in the home care of the elderly and disabled is being challenged in court as an illegal attempt to unionize direct care workers.

An organization of care providers and others sued the Wolf administration Monday. The Pennsylvania Homecare Association's lawsuit says domestic service workers can't unionize under Pennsylvania state law.

Wolf's Feb. 27 order creates the seven-member Governor's Advisory Group on Participant-Directed Home Care. In it, it directs the Human Services secretary to meet with a care worker who shows that they represent at least 10 percent of care workers who are paid through a state program.

However, the order also says it shouldn't be interpreted to create collective bargaining rights or a collective bargaining agreement.