Union Bargaining

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Union Bargaining

By Cassie Huisman

DES MOINES (AP) - Democratic legislative leaders are
trying to ease tensions with Governor Chet Culver over a proposal
to expand collective bargaining rights.
Today Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal, a Council Bluffs
Democrat, defended the measure, which has backing from labor
groups. He says lawmakers are open to listening to Culver and
making changes if necessary.
The bill got final legislative approval this week. But the
governor threatened to veto, saying lawmakers should allow more
discussion of the matter. Republicans also suggested that
legislators had been less than respectful of their governor by not
heeding his request.
Gronstal says they want to work in a collaborative way with
Culver.

Saturday, Mar 29 at 9:10 PM Free market~Not wrote ...

I think unions are the only thing that protects the people these days. I read so many of the articles on the Gazette's editorial page and just laugh. All the free market cheerleaders are so naive. they say "let the market take care of things". Well, that would be great if there really was a true free market anywhere in the world. What we really have is a series of "rackets" that scratch one anothers' backs. Unions are the only thing that fights off the greed of the corporations.

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Saturday, Mar 29 at 11:41 AM ken wrote ...

Unions the root of all evil.Take for instant auts They strike for better benifits higher wages whats that do when they get it. Higher prices for the buyers.Same way ith everythg else.The people and the unions have created their own monster .Then the people complain about it. Huh wake up people Get rid of the unions.

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Friday, Mar 28 at 5:51 PM mbafromuiu wrote ...

Travis is 100% correct. In Iowa an employer can fire you without notice or cause. The only penalty the company would face is to pay your unemployment. The only wrongful termination lawsuits allowed in Iowa are protected class suits (see pervious post). Do some research please. There is no such thing as 3 strikes, written warning protection, must know, or any other employee protection law in Iowa period

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Friday, Mar 28 at 5:40 PM mbafromuiu wrote ...

Union Employee is incorrect. Just because you belong to a union doesn't mean that you are protected from being fired. Iowa is a still a Right To Work state. What a union does is provide the employee a means to disagree with company and force some arbitration. The only protected groups are those listed by the EEOC and include age, race, sex and religion. And even then you must prove you were fired because you belonged to one of these groups and not because of some other reason.

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Friday, Mar 28 at 9:39 AM Paul Hoffman wrote ...

I WORK FOR THE UNION. DICTIONARY; labor union is a orgamization of wage earners that is set to serve and advance its members' intrest in terms of wages, benefits, and working hours and conditions. a union is only as strong as it's members,the union representatives need the members help to get what the members are intiled to. If you recive benefits from a union, then you should pay for the services that the members get. if you don't want to pay their is now law that says you must work there.

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Friday, Mar 28 at 5:34 AM union employee wrote ...

Actually Travis is correct. In Iowa, employers can let employees go without reason. The exception is those protected by their union rules.

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Friday, Mar 28 at 4:34 AM V wrote ...

At whirlpool: (Amana Refrigeration), we have lost every right and we are very afraid to stick up for our contract rights. I fear having my name here... they would fire me for it! The Union would stand by and do nothing! I know this for a fact. Whirlpool can do anything they want and the employees cannot stand against a world-wide company. American's used to have rights.... but not on a world wide platform. Whirlpool told us it is not worth employing American labor. How sad, we are worth nothing!

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Friday, Mar 28 at 4:31 AM Todd wrote ...

I agree paying union dues if you are getting union benefits. You pay for plates for the benefit to drive. You pay insurance to get the benefit of a doctor. You pay taxes in order to benefit for roads, fire and police protection. Yet I'm not in the organization of medicine, goverment, or the DMV. Yet I pay dues to all of them and to recieve their benefits, just like everyone else. Unions help to build strong communities. If your children goes to public schools that benifit was provided by unions

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Friday, Mar 28 at 1:44 AM Non union worker wrote ...

I disgree with Travis, a company has to have documented reasons to fire a worker. Most are scared to fire anyone in fear of a lawsuit. I think if you recieve union benefits you should pay the union dues to the organization who fought for those benefits.

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Thursday, Mar 27 at 10:28 PM union worker wrote ...

Travis needs to get a better understanding of Iowa work law. Just cause is needed. And as a union worker, I take offense to the idea that being forced to pay dues is protecting workers. We have in this country, freedom of association. I should not, in order to work some where have to pay one group or another that I do not wish to associate with. DW local USW 11-438

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Thursday, Mar 27 at 7:30 PM Travis wrote ...

I think the right to work law needs to be changed to protect the workers. The way it is now any company can fire anyone at any time for any reason.

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