Iowa collective bargaining bill DOA in Senate (YES!)

[emulatorloo]

http://iowaindependent.com/53767/collective-bargaining-bill-doa-in-iowa-senate

Collective bargaining bill DOA in Iowa Senate

By Lynda Waddington | 03.14.11 | 4:42 pm

The chairman of the Senate Labor Committee announced Monday that a bill passed by the Iowa House to limit collective bargaining rights is dead for the remainder of the session.

Sen. Wally Horn (D-Cedar Rapids) said that there weren’t enough votes in the Democratically-controlled Senate to bring the bill out of committee. Members of the Republican-controlled Iowa House spent three days last week debating the bill, which was ultimately passed Friday on a party line vote.

The bill, House File 525, allowed employees to become “free agents,” able to negotiate their terms of employment directly with employers even in a union shop. The bill also prohibited unions from negotiating on health benefits, retirement or layoffs, and required arbitrators to consider comparisons with non-union workers and the private sector, and whether taxes would be increased.

[Pirate Smile]

1. This is why it is so DAMN IMPORTANT that the Democrats control at least one side of the legislature.

I'm so sick of the "both parties are the same - corporate whores" crap. Sure, people don't have to be satisfied but to act like both parties will do the same thing is total and complete garbage. The HUGE difference is seeing what is happening in Iowa vs. Wisconsin, Ohio and Michigan. There is a big friggin difference. When people downplay that fact it results in what we have now in Wisconsin, Ohio and Michigan.

Thanks for posting this. :hi: :)

[Bluzmann57]

2. You make a very good point

Both parties are not the same and this proves it. Thanks for saying what needed to be said. SOLIDARITY!

[emulatorloo]

3. I agree 100% - both parties aren't the same at all.

The Dem Senate has done very well. I oughta to start calling and expressing my support.

[Pirate Smile]

4. I posted a thread on this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=433