DHS nominee faces questions about unionization of home health care workers

(Harrisburg) — The state Department of Human Services is one of the largest agencies in the commonwealth, responsible for everything from food stamps to Medicaid.

But at a confirmation hearing for its acting secretary, the focus turned to unions.

Nearly every question from Republican members of a state Senate committee centered around an executive order they see as a move towards unionization for home health care workers.

Acting agency Secretary Ted Dallas acknowledges he’s spoken with one union – the SEIU – about Governor Tom Wolf’s order.

But he says the new setup is about making it easier for the 20,000 independent workers to get problems addressed. He expects discussions will center around working conditions, compensation and outdated state rules.

“These are the folks who speak for us, these are the issues we want in front of the Secretary, these are the issues that we want in front of the Governor and I think that’s the underlying difference between just saying why don’t you just call up the Secretary and meet with him,” says Dallas.

Republican Senator Bob Mensch of Berks County wasn’t buying the explanation.

“I’m still missing something in that we need an executive order for a conversation,” he responded.

Dallas insists he hasn’t thought about the unions.

“I don’t know. I don’t know what their proposal would be. I think there are laws governing people’s ability to unionize and I think you’d have to wait and see what they come with.”

No senators asked about the expansion of the state’s Medicaid program, a complex undertaking that could add 600,000 people to the state’s rolls.

Despite the contentious questioning, the Senate committee unanimously approved Ted Dallas’s nomination.

The full Senate will have the final say on confirming Dallas to the position.