Collective bargaining debate impacts negotiations in Newton

The debate over collective bargaining dominated Iowa’s political landscape this week. The Iowa House and Senate gathered mostly along party lines to discuss changes to the state code known as Chapter 20, which governs bargaining for public sector employees.

Driven by Republican majorities, both houses passed a bill on Thursday afternoon that restricts collective bargaining. Gov. Terry Branstad is expected to sign it into law.

In its original form, the bill aimed to make only base salary negotiable for most public employees (with exceptions for public safety workers). However, an amendment passed on Thursday made the bill less restrictive toward bargaining. Issues such as grievance procedures and seniority benefits will be eligible for negotiation under the amended version. Health insurance benefits will not be negotiable.

Public school teachers have been especially critical of the measure. Newton High School foreign language teacher Alison Grier said she is concerned not all consequences, intended and unintended, have been thought out well.

“Collective bargaining has worked well in Iowa since the 1970s,” Grier said. “It seems ill conceived to try and gut something that has worked so well for so long.”

The uncertainty surrounding bargaining law impacted the negotiations between the Newton Community School District and the Newton Community Education Association this year, Grier said.

“The NCEA felt that it was important to maintain health insurance, a salary/seniority scale and provide a small salary increase. These were accomplished,” she said. “The fact that we were able to agree to a two-year deal allows both the district and the teachers to plan ahead and feel more secure.”

Gayle Isaac, director of business services for the Newton Community School District, also said the deal secured for 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 was influenced by the threat of changes to Chapter 20.

“The teachers went for a two-year agreement, so that they are protected by law for two years,” Isaac said. “They keep this contract, this aging of the salary schedule, which helps their members for two years.”

At the beginning of the debate process before amendments were introduced, Sen. Amy Sinclair, R-Allerton, said the intent of the bill was one of local control for school districts, counties and cities.

“Because of that goal of local control of employment and bargaining issues, any impact on public sector workers will be directly related to the decisions made at the local level,” Sinclair said.

Despite the union members’ fears, Isaac said the district wants to pay teachers a fair wage and provide good benefits.

“But we also have to be cognizant of the tax payer money, and we have to balance the budget,” Isaac said. “We have to live within the means of the revenue that’s given to us each year. We have spent more money than we have taken in over the last 10 years to a huge amount.”

Seven out of the last 10 years, compensation for teachers has taken up nearly all of the district’s new money, Isaac said. In addition to the teacher’s union, the district must account for the compensation of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America union. Administrative positions and meet and confer groups such as secretaries, head custodians, supervisors and technicians must also be paid.

Grier said other states that have made similar changes to their collective bargaining laws have seen an increase in teacher shortages. She said Sen. Chaz Allen, D-Newton, and Rep. Wes Breckenridge, D-Newton, have been wonderful allies in the Legislature.

Allen spoke in defense of collective bargaining during the Senate debate. He said the best approach is one that features cooperation and honest negotiations between management and workers, between neighbors and between people who all have a stake in the success and prosperity of Iowa’s communities.

Six House Republicans voted against the measure. The Senate vote was uniformly partisan with the exception of Iowa’s lone independent Sen. David Johnson voting against the bill.

Contact Justin Jagler at 641-792-3121
ext 6532 or jjagler@newtondailynews.com