The Attacks Continue

First it was Wisconsin, then Ohio, and now Iowa. Republicans in state legislatures all over the country are attempting to destroy the power of unions and take away the right of collective bargaining from public employees.

This morning, after fifteen hours of debate by Democrats, House Study Bill 117 passed in the Iowa House Labor Committee. Not only were Democrats not able to kill this union-busting legislation, but Republicans in committee refused to attach any of the 48 amendments proposed by Democrats to alleviate some of the devastating effects this bill will have on working class families. House Study Bill 117 will now go to the full House where, if passed, will destroy collective bargaining rights.

Even though Democrats were unable to kill this bill in committee, there are still many more opportunities to do so before it actually becomes law, and Democrats in Iowa refuse to let it get that far. Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal ensured that the Democrats in the Iowa state legislature will “fight [House Study Bill 117] every step of the way.

House Study Bill 117 in Iowa is not the only union-busting legislation currently pending in state legislatures. Republicans have introduced similar bills all over the country such as Senate Bill 575 in Indiana, House Bill 474 in New Hampshire, and Senate Bill 5 in Ohio. This is no longer a state by state issue. This is now a serious attack on the right to collectively bargain for workers all over the country. We, as Democrats, need to not only work in these states to fight the already proposed legislation, but to also work together to stop the spread of such anti-union legislation and to preserve the rights of workers all of the country.