January 11, 2007
The fall of the gavel announced the beginning of the 82nd General Assembly this past Monday. As a member of the Republican party, I was very much aware of the changes that were in place in the House of Representatives as a result of the Democrats winning control of the majority in the House. The most immediate result to me personally was I lost my chairmanship and my office. I am now ranking member of the Ag & Natural Resources Sub-Committee.
This week has been mostly consumed with speeches from the Governor, the Supreme Court Chief Justice, and the House leaders. One thing on the agenda is changing our seats for the ensuing two year period. Former Representative Phil Tyrrell will be pleased that I am still literally filling his seat. Or maybe he won’t. He nearly always scolds me for messing up his desk!
Recently, some legislators at the Capitol have proposed gutting Iowa’s Right-to-Work law, thereby forcing employees to join a union, even against the will of the worker.
The Right to Work principle affirms the right of every American to work for a living without being compelled to belong to a union. Compulsory unionism in any form--"union”, "closed”, or "agency" shop--is a contradiction of the Right-to-Work principle and the fundamental human right that the principle represents.
In 1947, the Taft-Hartley amendments to the 1935 National Labor Relations Act affirmed states’ right to pass Right-to-Work laws. Right-to-Work laws guarantee that no person can be compelled, as a condition of employment, to join or not to join, nor to pay dues to a labor union.
As of January 1, 2006, 22 states had adopted Right-to-Work laws. Because of this, those states have seen a significantly better environment for business, and businesses have reacted by locating there. Many Iowa companies have located here because our state is a Right-to-Work state.
“Fee for Service, Agency Fee, Fair Share” – These three phrases have been tossed around by some legislators. All of these phrases describe the same thing – requiring an employee that is covered in a bargaining unit to pay money to the union that represents their bargaining unit.
Fee for Service, Agency Fee and Fair Share all mean the same thing – a repeal of Right-to-Work laws and Forced Unionism.
One thing to keep in mind, any tinkering with the current Right-to-Work law would make Iowa ineligible to be considered a “Right-to-Work” state under US Dept of Labor standards. This seriously effects our ability to attract business to the state.
I believe employees should have the right to choose whether or not to belong to a union, and I will not be supportive of this effort.
Visitors to the Capitol
Eunice Holderness and Beverly Montross from Millersburg, representing the Heritage Area Aging Agency.
Question of the Week…
How important to you is the “Right-to-Work” law in Iowa?
I would appreciate your input. My phone number at the Capitol is 515-281-3221, or e-mail me at betty.deboef@legis.state.ia.us. I would welcome visitors at the Capitol, too!