HOUSE TO HOUSE

By Polly Granzow

State Representative

 Right to Work

 Republicans and Democrats find common ground on many issues in the legislature such as bio-energy, Medicaid funding, improved education, and supporting our Veterans and those in the Armed Forces.  However, one issue bound to get much discussion this session is whether Iowa will maintain its Right to Work status.  In Iowa, employees have the right to belong to a union or the right not to belong to a union.  Iowa has been a Right to Work state since 1947.  The Taft-Hartley Act states that a Right to Work law secures the right of employees to decide for themselves whether or not to join or financially support a union. 

 Unions can choose to have “exclusive representation”.  They agree to negotiate for both members and non-members, whether they want them to or not.  This means they can keep competing unions out and workers cannot represent themselves.  Unions can also choose to represent members only, but do not have the protection from other unions competing.  The Supreme Court and other court cases have acknowledged that federal law permits members-only bargaining.

 SSB1120 has been introduced in the Senate and House to change Iowa’s Right to Work law requiring non-members to pay their “fair share” for negotiations.  This would force all employees to contribute to the union.  Supporters contend fees are justified because they represent everyone.  Opponents contend unions may waive their bargaining privileges for non-members and they should not have to contribute.

 Attempts in the past to repeal this law have failed; once in 1965 and again in 1988.  It is up for debate again this year.  I have studied both sides extensively and learned that businesses interested in locating in Iowa ask if it is a Right to Work state.  The 22 states that have the Right to Work law have a definite advantage for economic growth.  Governor Culver favors the repeal.  He will most likely sign it into law if it passes both the Senate and House. 

 Allowable Growth 

The Senate passed a 4% allowable growth rate for K-12 schools for 2009.  It now comes to the House.  This was somewhat surprising since it was expected they would follow through on the 6% allowable growth rhetoric we heard last summer and fall.  A concern many of us have with allowable growth, regardless of the percentage, is the fact that local property taxes also increase.  I am co-sponsoring an amendment that will provide for property tax relief so that any increase will be borne solely by state revenue and not be passed on to local property owners.  The amount of allowable growth is critical to our local schools, especially those with declining enrollment.  It also affects our Area Education Association (AEA), which provides support to all our schools.

Questions of the week:  Should the Right to Work law be repealed?

Should allowable growth be 4% or 6%?

As always, you can contact me on these and other issues at polly.granzow@legis.state.ia.us or at 641-858-5210 on weekends.