Iowa Lawmakers Set to Debate 60 Year Old Law (right to work)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.ktiv.com/News/index.php?ID=8766

Iowa Lawmakers Set to Debate 60 Year Old Law
From the city crews who fix the pipes underneath our streets to the meat packers at Tyson Fresh Meats in Dakota City, Nebraska, hundreds of workers in Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota have been faced with the decision of whether to belong to a union.

A law in all three states, called the Right to Work Act, gives employees in unionized companies that choice. Now, some Iowa republicans are charging that democrats want to change to that law.

"Basically they're proposing that we require non-union members, people who've chosen not to belong to a union to pay union dues," says house Republican Christopher Rants.

Proponents of the idea say it would ensure that those who don't belong to a union could still enjoy the benefits negotiated by labor leaders for the good of all employees union or otherwise.

"They need to pay something for the services they receive, especially when you're talking about legal services that are free," explains incoming House Speaker, Democrat Pat Murphy.

While unions, which have seen a drop in overall membership over the years are pushing for a "fair share" initiative, business leaders say it could hurt Iowa's economy.

"One of the questions companies ask, when they're looking to expand, they want to know that about states...are you a Right to Work state? At least on our side of the state, with Nebraska and South Dakota both being Right to Work States we will lose out,” says Chamber of Commerce member Barbara Sloniker, who works closely with state and federal lawmakers.

However, Democrats contend that's not the impact they're seeing in Wisconsin and Minnesota, which don't have Right to Work laws, but have better job growth than Iowa.



Democrats just want partial dues paid by non-union members. They're not proposing that workers be forced to join unions. The U-S Supreme Court has ruled that to be unconstitutional.

Furthermore, Democrats say repeal of the Iowa's Right to Work act is just an idea and no bill has been formulated.

Still, Republicans say they are ready to fight this initiative.

Updated: January 5, 2007, 5:45 pm

[Radical Activist]

1. Nothing would do more good for Iowa.

Its nearly impossible to organize a union in a right-to-work state. Or as I call it, "Right to work more hours for less pay" state.

[justgamma]

2. I work in a Union shop.

The Union is required to fight for even those people who do not pay dues, but get all the benefits.(Although they don't fight nearly as hard for them)

I kind of like the idea that they would at least have to pay for some of the benefits of belonging to the Union.

[jwirr]

3. It is about time. Iowa's stupid work law has hurt more people than

they can count. My family worked to unionize several business they worked for but in Iowa you always have that law to contend with.

[madrchsod]

4. "Proponents of the idea say it would ensure that those

who don't belong to a union could still enjoy the benefits negotiated by labor leaders for the good of all employees union or otherwise".
well i worked at northwestern steel and wire and illinois forge ..it was union or no job and that`s the way it should be. my grandfather and dad`s generation fought to the death for unions and this generation gives it away....that`s really fucking disrespectful to those who lived and died a union worker.

[DaveinMD]

5. it should be called

the right to work for less.