Gov. Ted Strickland signed an executive order Friday allowing certain child care workers paid through state programs the right to unionize.
The directive was the second of its kind since July, when the Democratic governor gave similar collective bargaining rights to some home health care workers paid by the state.
Critics have said Strickland is overstepping his authority. The governor - whose campaign was strongly backed by labor - has countered that unionizing would give the workers the chance at better wages and job conditions.
A November article by The Associated Press, based on e-mails obtained through a public records request, reported that a pair of public employee unions generous to Democrats was included in the drafting process for both orders.