IOWA – Friday, March 3, Governor Terry Branstad signed House File 291 into law. Iowa’s new bargaining rights law changes the Iowa Public Employment Relations Act, often called Iowa’s collective bargaining law or Chapter 20, legislation enacted in 1974 that permits public employees to organize and bargain collectively.
Under House File 291, unions that represent non-public safety workers will no longer be able to bargain on items such as health insurance or use payroll deduction to collect dues. The law also limits union involvement in contract negotiations in the areas of evaluation procedures, staff reduction, leave of absence, insurance benefits and other fringe benefits.
Some say the new law has many similarities as Wisconsin’s Act 10 that passed in 2011. Act 10 eliminated most of the union’s rights to negotiate retirement pensions and health insurance on behalf of Wisconsin’s public workers.
What do you think of House File 291? Comment below!
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