February 1, 2007

HIGHLITES FROM THE SENATE

SENATOR MARK ZIEMAN

The assault on Iowa’s sixty year old Right to Work law intensified last week.

Right to Work guarantees that no worker in our state can be forced to join a union, or required to pay union dues in order to get or keep a job. Under the bill introduced this week, workers in union shops who are not union members would be required to pay up or be fired.

The legislation would require employers to deduct union fees from nonmembers’ wages to pay for collective bargaining agreements negotiated by the unions. It forces nonunion members to pay union dues. Make no mistake, no matter how the bill is characterized by its supporters, the legislation is an attempt to repeal Iowa’s Right to Work law.

I support the current law and will not vote for its repeal. I believe Iowa’s workers should not be forced to pay for activities they do not wish to support. They should have the freedom to decide whether joining a union is right for them. Repealing Right to Work would put Iowa at a competitive disadvantage. Currently, Iowa is one of 22 Right to Work states across the nation. Many local economic development offices in Iowa highlight Right to Work as one of the advantages of doing business in Iowa. Business relocation consultants say Right to Work is a critical factor in location decisions. Insight Research Corporation, one of the country’s dominant competitors in corporate relocation research, reported that 90 percent of their clients looking to expand or relocate will not even consider non-Right to Work states.

In recent years, Iowa has been working very hard to attract jobs and businesses through our economic development initiatives. Repealing Right to Work would have a chilling effect on efforts to grow Iowa’s economy.

I’m committed to Iowa’s Right to Work status and will fight any attempts to gut the law. Right to Work is needed. It gives Iowa’s workers a choice, helps attract new jobs and businesses, and drives economic growth in communities across the state.

Representative Quirk and I will be hosting a Town Meeting on Saturday, February 10th in Lime Springs. We will be at the Community
Center from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. We would welcome the opportunity to hear your opinions and concerns.

SENATOR MARK ZIEMAN
Senate District 8

For further information or clarification, please contact me at the Capitol (515) 281-3371 or at my home (563) 864-3104