Unions and Democrats Place Pressure on Gov Culver with Forced Bargaining Bill
The Democrat controlled Iowa House and Senate leaders are working with the teachers unions to push a forced bargaining bill that will place control of Iowa school boards in the hands of the union special interests.
Last year, Democrat Governor Chet Culver vetoed the forced bargaining bill HF 2645 after it was passed by both chambers.
Now, the unions have ramped up their efforts and are placing the pressure on Gov. Culver.
AWF sent the following letter to the Governor urging him to remain strong and dedicated to his principles. We know he opposed it last year. If it comes up again, we hope the Governor will stick to principle and not allow the unions to intimidate him into changing his mind.
Honorable Chet Culver
State Capitol
Des Moines, IA 50319
Dear Governor Culver:
On behalf of the Alliance for Worker Freedom (AWF), an organization representing millions of rank-and-file workers in Iowa and across America, I would like to thank you again for vetoing a forced bargaining bill, H.F. 2645, in May of 2008.
However, despite your dedicated opposition to forced bargaining and your statements last year against this legislation, extreme left-leaning Democrats in Iowa are attempting to pass this legislation again.
I would like to remind you, that this bill adds several mandatory bargaining items to the teacher quality law and eliminates some provisions that provided a balance between management and labor. The changes significantly tilt the playing field in favor of one special interest over another.
In fact, The Des Moines Register reported on 3-20-08 that “school boards would lose much of their authority to determine a number of issues, including scheduling, class size and early retirement benefits for staff…” The Iowan taxpayers and workers deserve a Legislature that respects their decision making power over that of a million-dollar special interest – organized labor.
Currently in the items which can be discussed in the scope of forced union bargaining are: wages, vacations, holidays, seniority, transfer procedures, job classifications, procedures for staff reduction, and in-service training.
However, those in the Iowa legislature want to add more items that you have already opposed, to this list. Items that wish to be added are: work-shift schedules, insurance carriers, leaves of absence, shift differentials, overtime compensation, supplemental pay, health or safety matters, evaluation procedures, preparation time, class size, work uniforms and staffing levels and retirement systems.
Sincerely,
Brian M. Johnson, MPA
Executive Director
