‘Fair share’ debate heating up
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By Charlotte Eby | Thursday, February 01, 2007 |
DES MOINES — Unions and business groups are going head-to-head with lobbying efforts for and against “fair share” legislation that would require non-union members to pay if they benefit from union services.
After Democrats captured the majority in both chambers of the Iowa Legislature and the governor’s office in the November election, their labor allies are pushing for them to embrace fair share.
Union groups passed out ice cream at the Statehouse cafeteria Wednesday, along with flyers promoting a fair share law. A video of Iowa workers testifying about the benefits of fair share laws was playing.
John Campbell, a lobbyist for the United Steelworkers of America, argues that Iowa workers should pay for the salary increases and benefits negotiated for them by unions as well as the union’s costs of representing them in grievances.
“It’s just a matter of economic equity and fairness. Should you get something for nothing? Why should we spend our resources, our efforts and our time to defend someone who doesn’t pay for that service?” he said.
But critics bristle at the term “fair share” and say the proposal undermines Iowa’s right to work laws, which prohibit forced union membership.
Kellie Paschke, a lobbyist with the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, says defeating the legislation is the group’s top priority this session. The group believes the legislation takes away worker rights.
Dennis Fusaro, executive director of Iowans for Right to Work Committee, said the fair share proposal guts Iowa’s right to work law “like a fish on a string.”
He argues any law that requires a non-union worker to pay union fees goes against the right to work laws.
He says the issue is a loser for Democrats, pointing to similar efforts more than 40 years ago that he believes caused the party to lose their majorities in the Iowa Legislature then.
Democratic leaders have said they would consider a fair share law this year. Gov. Chet Culver, a Democrat, said in December the issue should be considered.
Under the current proposal, Senate Study Bill 1120, public employees who are not union employees but whose workplaces are covered by collective bargaining agreements would see automatic payroll deductions for “fair share” fees.
Private-sector employees who work at unionized workplaces would have to authorize the payroll deduction. But signing off on that deduction could be a condition of employment if it is part of the negotiated contract between the employer and the union.
GOP lawmakers have pledged to take the issue to the campaign trail in 2008, arguing that most Iowans are opposed to the idea.
Charlotte Eby can be contacted at (515) 243-0138 or chareby@aol.com.
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