By Jesse Russell

Iowa has become the most recent state to open the doors to organizing home childcare providers. Governor Tom Vilsack signed legislation this week that orders the Department of Human Services to meet with the union that wins representation of the workers. Both the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the Service Employees International Union are vying for the opportunity to represent the nearly 13,000 workers. The two unions recently signed a two-year pact that prohibits either union from raiding, decertifying or interfering with member representation rights.