Ram anti-union bill through first, Legislative Coffee later

[sagesnow]

" Under the new legislation, unions representing the state’s teachers, nurses, correctional officers and employees at facilities like the Glenwood Resource Center will only be allowed to negotiate wages. Workers will no longer be able to collectively bargain for benefits - such as health insurance and vacation time – or working conditions related to work schedules, overtime pay and employee evaluation procedures. The legislation also prohibits unions from collecting dues through payroll deduction and requires every union to be recertified before negotiations can take place.
The legislation was passed swiftly with strong partisan support from Republicans, who control both houses of the Iowa Legislature for the first time in two decades. Democrats, labor unions and other opponents have accused Republicans of intentionally keeping the public in the dark about the legislation before fast-tracking the bill through committee votes. Content of the bill was made public Feb. 7 with a vote for final passage in the Senate taking place nine days later.
A member of the audience at Saturday’s briefing questioned why Sieck and Costello failed to mention the potential for a collective bargaining bill at their Jan. 21 legislative briefing in Glenwood, a community with a significant number of public employees.
“Why are we having a meeting after the fact, after this has been pushed through?” she asked."


http://www.opinion-tribune.com/content/legislative-briefing-attracts-overflow-crowd

My note: A member of this crowd also noted that Governor Branstad was in the Des Moines Register with a picture as he signed this bill. One of the Koch brothers was broadly gleaming over his shoulder. I will post if I can find this article. Shock and Awe comes to Iowa.

[atreides1]

1. I often wonder?

How many of those teachers, nurses, and other state employees voted for Republicans? And even after this, will continue to do so?

[rurallib]

2. I think this is what you are looking for

Last edited Thu Feb 23, 2017, 10:25 AM - Edit history (2)

http://iowastartingline.com/2017/02/22/branstad-celebrates-behind-closed-doors-koch-lobbyist/ (better link)
can't seem to copy the picture

Remember Branstad was a founding member of ALEC (mostly Koch money) and has been looking to bust unions from his first day in the legislature way back when


http://iowastartingline.com/2017/02/22/branstad-celebrates-behind-closed-doors-koch-lobbyist/

?quality=85&strip=all&w=400&h=225&crop=1

[sagesnow]

3. Thanks rurallib.

I'm housecleaning and didn't have time to find this article.

[Angry Dragon]

4. This shit makes me sick

[rurallib]

5. Wait til you hear or read this one - Drew Klein

makes it plain he is running the Iowa legislature:

http://iowapublicradio.org/post/supporting-private-schools-iowa-next-agenda-item-koch-brothers-funded-group

A spokesman for the Koch Brothers-funded organization Americans for Prosperity says school choice is their next top issue to push through the Iowa legislature.

The group last week saw completion of their number one priority, rewriting Iowa’s collective bargaining law.

The bill reduces the bargaining rights for public workers in Iowa and affects their ability to raise money and stay organized.

Speaking at the Westside Conservative Club in Urbandale, Americans for Prosperity’s Drew Klein received kudos for his work on the collective bargaining bill.

[47of74]

6. I'm seriously considering leaving Iowa

It's turning into a right wing shithole.

[rurallib]

7. We have pretty well decided to, but it may take a while

We'll probably move near one of our kids both of whom live in much bluer areas

This isn't Iowa anymore. It is more like Mississippi with snow and cold and a lot of corn.

[47of74]

8. Minnesota and Oregon are looking more attractive to me all the time.

Once I get out of school I might explore moving to either state.

[rurallib]

9. If you are young and have few ties

I would throw Canada into that mix.
If you want to leave the cold and snow behind, I hear Vancouver is wonderful.