By AP/KWMU
Springfield, Ill – The Service Employees International Union declared victory Thursday in an election to decide if it would represent 49,000 state-subsidized child care workers.
SEIU was supported by about 82 percent of the almost 17,000 workers who participated in the mail-in election.
Their only competition was the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
The federation drew 2,684 votes, compared to SEIU's 13,484 votes. 359 workers voted against having any union at all.
An SEIU spokesman says the union's biggest priority will likely be securing better reimbursement rates from the state.
Governor Rod Blagojevich granted the workers collective bargaining rights in February.