If this doesn’t make your heart ache for the kids in Oregon’s foster system, I don’t know what will. At best, it’s a terribly misguided attempt to get attention for foster parents.
Foster parents would be considered public employees allowed to form, join and participate in unions under a bill introduced in the Senate Tuesday.
Senate Bill 570 would bar foster parents from striking and would allow them to be considered public employees only for the purpose of organizing as a union.
Sen. Chip Shields, D-Portland, said Tuesday afternoon the bill has a “slim” chance of passing, but he re-introduced the concept to continue conversations about training and support for foster parents.
Heaven help us when we consider raising children to be just another public sector job where you collectively bargain with your employer.