Iowa House Republicans pass collective bargaining changes for school employees

DES MOINES - Following debate that spanned two days, Republicans in the Iowa House on Wednesday approved a measure that would change the collective bargaining process for teachers and other school employees.

Currently, arbitrators assigned to disputes between the teachers union and the state over wages, benefits or other contractual matters must choose from the two offers. The provision passed Wednesday by the House would allow arbitrators to choose a compromise point between the offers.

The measure passed with only Republican support after more than nine hours of debate, including three hours of breaks while Democratic House members huddled off the floor in caucus.

Democrats decried the proposal, calling it an attack on teachers and an attempt by Republicans to distract from their school funding proposal, on which the two political parties also vehemently disagree.

'This entire bill is a distraction,” said Rep. Sharon Steckman, D-Mason City, a retired teacher. 'We're beating up on teachers instead of taking care of kids and funding their schools.”

Republicans defended the proposed collective bargaining changes as a means to help schools contain operating costs.

The legislation also prohibits arbitrators from considering the fact that school districts can attempt to levy taxes in order to pay for salary increases, and stipulates arbitrators must consider comparable private-sector wages and benefits when making a ruling.

'This just takes the scales that have gotten a little bit out of balance and brings them back in balance,” said House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha.

There have been 18 teacher arbitrations addressing 30 items since the 2010 fiscal year. Of those, 19 were decided for the teachers union and 11 for the state, according to the state's nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency.

House Democrats made clear the depth of their opposition to the proposal by the procedural lengths to which they went to draw out the process. They offered more than a dozen amendments - each of which House Republican leadership ruled not relevant to the bill - and 25 Democrats stood up to speak against the bill during debate.

During the vote on the bill, Democrats invoked a seldom-used House rule in which each member speaks his or her vote rather than voting electronically. Each Democrat stood after voting in a sign of solidarity.

In addition to calling it an attack on teachers, Democrats said the proposal is a solution without a problem, that the current collective bargaining process has served the state well for decades. They noted no advocacy groups are registered in favor of the bill.

'Who said that (the collective bargaining law) was not working? Who said that? I want to know who told you it wasn't working,” said Rep. Phyllis Thede, D-Bettendorf. 'It's a process that has always worked. … The current law has been working.”

Rep. Greg Forristall, R-Macedonia, accused Democrats of playing politics with the issue.

Republicans argued the proposed changes are minor in scope, allowing only for arbitrators to choose a point somewhere between the final offers.

House Minority Leader Mark Smith, D-Marshalltown, suggested the proposed changes would lead to more arbitration cases.

The bill is unlikely to receive a hearing in the Democrat-controlled Senate.