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Labor organizers push back on 'union-busting' bill

Labor advocates argue SSB 3158 would unnecessarily burden Iowa's already overtaxed court system. (Adobe Stock)

 Mark Moran, Producer-Editor

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Monday, February 26, 2024  

Labor organizers are pushing back on a measure in the Iowa Legislature they say is designed to undermine unions.

It would create an additional step in order for a labor union to be certified by the state.

Senate Study Bill 3158, introduced by the Republican majority, would require public employers that hire union-backed workers to submit a list of employees who are in the bargaining unit to the state within 10 days of a union recertification election.

If they fail to do so, the state will immediately decertify the union, unless the union takes the employer to court.

American Federation of Labor (AFL) Iowa chapter President Charlie Wishman called the bill a clear attempt to disrupt unions.

"If they're not sending in the list, why are they punishing the union by saying that the union needs to take the employer to court?" said Wishman. "It's just totally upside down, on its face."

Supporters of the measure claim the state had not been getting union membership information in a timely manner from more than 40% of companies holding recertification elections, and that this measure would fix that.

Wishman said unions have addressed that issue and claim it's no longer a problem.

Wishman suggested the bill would further burden an already overloaded court system at taxpayer expense.

"This is creating confusion," said Wishman, "and it is going to create more court cases, and it is creating more bureaucracy that didn't need to be there."

Study Bill 3158 awaits action in the Iowa Senate.

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Opponents of 'union busting bill' fly message above Iowa Statehouse


Feb 22, 2024
DES MOINES, Iowa —

Some Iowa teamsters descended Wednesday on the Iowa Statehouse, pushing back against a bill they say weakens Iowa unions.

Our cameras captured a plane flying around the Capitol reading "Kill Senator Dickey's Union Busting Bill." 

The bill would impact public employees like teachers, first responders, plow drivers and more. It would require employers, like cities and schools, to prove a list of local union members during the collective bargaining process.

If that employer fails to do so, the state would immediately decertify the union. The union would then need to ask a court to force their employer to submit that list.

A rolling caravan of about 100 cars and trucks circled the statehouse today, demanding lawmakers kill the plan.

Under current law, if an employer fails to submit a list of union members, then union contracts would be approved without a vote.

Senator Adrian Dickey is leading the bill.

Dickey says he is being "attacked for simply proposing public employers and unions follow the law."

Dickey says the bill is nothing more than a technical clean-up and a that "if the public sector employer and the union are following the law, nothing will change for them."