Ragan Report

Scrapping Iowans’ health security is an attack on workers
     The last couple weeks at the Statehouse, we’ve been focused on standing up to an attack on hard-working Iowans. I’m standing up because I believe law enforcement officers, fire fighters, teachers, nurses and other Iowa workers deserve fairness and a voice in their own workplace.
     Out-of-state special interests are pushing a legislative agenda that will drive down wages, cut health care and degrade the quality of life for Iowa workers across the state (SF213/HF291). There are many aspects to this legislation—which guts Iowa’s collective bargaining laws—that will dramatically impact the livelihoods and families of 180,000 Iowans.
     These bills are being rushed through the legislative process, in spite of an overwhelmingly negative response from Iowans of all walks of life. Most Iowans are opposed to stripping rights and protections for public workers. They know how hard firefighters, nurses, road workers, correctional offices, teachers and others work to improve our communities.
     One of the most dangerous provisions of their anti-worker legislation reduces the health care security for most Iowans who answer the call to serve our communities. That’s wrong. Rather than fast-tracking a major change in the health care policies of hundreds of thousands of Iowans, we should listen to locally elected officials, managers and others.
     The bottom line is the current law works. Originally passed to stop strikes, Iowa’s bipartisan collective bargaining law has served Iowans, employees and public employers well for more than 40 years. It allows management and workers to sit down and negotiate the terms of health insurance, wages and other benefits.
     Gutting this law will make it harder—not easier—to attract and retain the top-notch public servants every Iowa community wants.
     Sen. Amanda Ragan (D-Mason City) serves Franklin, Butler and Cerro Gordo counties in Senate District 27. She can be reached at (515) 281-3371 or (641) 424-0874. Email her at amanda.ragan@legis.iowa.gov.