Forum centers on issues with collective bargaining

     Three employees (Justin Kracht, Tammy Luchtenburg, and Pat Fowler) with the Anamosa State Penitentiary were present, along with a room full of others, at the Feb. 24 Jones County economic Development legislative forum in Anamosa.

     The prison guards, department of corrections employees, pressed the four legislators (Sens. Dan Zumbach and Tod Bowman and Reps. Andy McKean and Lee Hein) as to why they were not considered part of the “public safety” grouping when the collective bargaining bill was passed and signed into law two weeks ago.

     Zumbach said one of the biggest struggles the Senate had with the bill was to get everyone, or the majority, to agree on it.

     “We weren’t able to pull enough people in the Senate to get prison employees included,” answered Zumbach. “You have a very legit concern.”

     Hein blamed the decision to exclude prison employees on Gov. Terry Branstad.

     “In conversations I’ve had with our leadership,” he said, “the feeling is that the Governor made up his mind they (department of corrections employees) needed to be on the side they ended up on. But I don’t agree with that.”

     Hein proposed that perhaps with Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds moves in as Iowa Governor when Branstad becomes Ambassador to China, they could take another look at the collective bargaining law.

     “Right or wrong,” said Hein, “that where he (Branstad) drew the line.”

     Bowman said he proposed an amendment to the bill that would have included department of corrections employees as public safety employees in the law. But, the Republicans voted against the amendment.

     “Let’s me clear,” prefaced Bowman, “there is a lot of dissatisfaction out there.” He even cited a lawsuit that has been filed against the new law.

     “We make the laws and the Governor signs them,” said Bowman in response to Branstad suggesting laws without the backing of the House and Senate.

     “I’m just disappointed with the whole process,” added Bowman. “What the Governor wants, he doesn’t always get.”

     Bowman said there were plenty of chances to have the bill amended.

     McKean said not including department of corrections employees with the rest is one of the main reasons why he was one of six Republicans in the House who voted against the bill.

     “It pitted people against each other,” he said of the law. “It created a classification that is a slap in the face to correctional folks.”

     McKean said while not bill is perfect, in this case, for him, the cons outweighed the pros.

     Fowler said he felt as if this bill was rushed through.

     “It was fast-tracked,” he said. “No doubt about it.”

     He said since Branstad signed the bill a week or so ago, the prison has heard nothing in terms of how it would affect the employees there.

     “In the past,” he said, “career opportunities within the department of corrections were pretty attractive. Now, who are you going to get to work in the prisons? For minimum wage?”

     Bowman agreed with Fowler, saying the state will see potential prison employees leaving the state for “greener pastures.

     “They’ll use their skill set in a different endeavor,” added Bowman “We already have a shortage of teachers in Iowa. Now, it will be difficult. I’m worried about our quality of education. This will be the biggest thing to impact students.” (Bowman is a teacher in Maquoketa.)

     Former County Supervisor Pat Callahan also questioned the urgency with the collective bargaining bill. He also suggested the legislators to hold a forum during the school day at a local public school so teachers and staff have an opportunity to weigh in as well.

     Callahan also questioned by this particular bill did have a study committee look into the ins and outs before the Governor signed it.

     “In the county and city government, we don’t just rush through things,” said Callahan. “We require three readings and take our time to hear what the public has to say.”

     Hein said he didn’t feel as though the bill was rushed through, but did feel there needed to be changes to the state’s old collective bargaining law. Hein said in 2011 and 2015, similar bills were proposed. “This is nothing new,” he said. “There were plenty of opportunities for people to participate.”

     Bowman clarified that he saw the bill on a Tuesday after coming out of a subcommittee on Monday. Debate started in the Senate on Tuesday and ran for 30 straight hours into Wednesday.

     “That is when emergency powers were put into place,” he said, “and it was signed by the Governor on Friday.”

     He said any mistakes that were pointed out during debate, he was told would be corrected after it was signed.

     Bowman said he’s been working on the distracted driving bill for four years now, “a bill that actually saves lives,” and there has been no rush on it.

     “I think there was a secret agenda, a group of people who wanted this done quickly,” he said. “I had no input. That is not the way I want to legislate.”

     McKean said since he’s been back in Des Moines after a lengthy absence, he’s concerned that things are moving too fast.

     “We could be losing the support from the people we represent if we don’t slow down the train a bit and make sure we're doing things right,” said McKean.