Bargaining rights

By The Gazette Editorial Board

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Due to divided government, a Wisconsin-style fight over public-sector unions in Iowa has been canceled, or perhaps postponed. Check with your local lawmakers.

Legislation making considerable changes in the way state government deals with unions representing state workers cleared the House Labor Committee early Friday after a marathon debate. It's likely to pass the Republican-controlled House, but with the Senate still in the hands of Democrats, that's probably the end of the line during this General Assembly.

We've expressed support for measures that would require public employees to contribute more toward the rising cost of health insurance and that would eliminate automatic step pay increases. But we would not support going as far as legislation pushed by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker that would effectively gut the unions' ability to collectively bargain. We hope such an extreme proposal does not gain momentum in Iowa.

But if it does, unlike Wisconsin, it won't be a surprise. Fact checkers watching the Wisconsin drama say Walker made no mention during his 2010 campaign that he would make a dramatic grab for bargaining rights. But thanks to the saga across our border, Iowa politicians will need to make their stand crystal clear in 2012. Voters will be asking.

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