H.F. 2645 Threatens Iowa's Score on the Index of Worker Freedom
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: John Kartch
1 APRIL 2008
202-785-0266
H.F. 2645 Threatens Iowa’s Score on the Index of Worker Freedom
Iowa Scored a B-, This Measure Could Push Them Lower
Washington, D.C. — The Alliance for Worker Freedom (AWF) today continues to urge Governor Chet Culver (D-IA) to veto H.F. 2645. The bill adds several mandatory bargaining items to the teacher quality law and eliminates some provisions that provided a balance between management and labor.
According to AWF policy Directory Brian Johnson, “The changes would prodigiously tilt the playing field in favor of labor and could compromise Iowa’s ranking on the upcoming 2008 Index of Worker Freedom.”
The Alliance for Worker Freedom publishes an annual state-by-state scorecard which ranks and grades each state on their level of worker freedom. Iowa scored a “B-” on the 2007 Index; losing points for having a minimum wage higher than the federal wage, not having paycheck protection laws, failing to offer public employees traditional defined contribution pensions and having a creation of small businesses lower than the national average. Given that the bill also increases taxes to “the largest in Iowan history,” it is not safe to assume any of these variables will remain stable.
Passage of the bill would ensure that “union bosses would be able to hold state legislatures hostage,” according to Johnson. The teachers union, which would be most profoundly affected by this legislation, is a powerful and active union force within the state of Iowa.
The Alliance for Worker Freedom along with other state and national organizations are continuing to monitor and oppose this bill and urge Gov. Culver to veto this measure.
“It is time for the Governor to stand up for all workers in Iowa and not give his union buddies the ability to ravage the state budget at the expense of the average worker and Iowan taxpayer,” says Johnson.
