Iowa Regents didn't bargain in good faith with UNI faculty, UI grad students
The state broke Iowa law by refusing to negotiate in good faith when the Iowa Board of Regents delayed contract talks with unions representing University of Northern Iowa faculty and University of Iowa graduate students in late 2016 and early 2017, the Public Employee Relations Board determined in separate rulings last week.
Following the 2016 election, when it was clear Republicans would have total control of state government, United Faculty and the Campaign to Organize Graduate Students (COGS) attempted to negotiate new contracts for their members, following a bargaining schedule used in previous years.
But the governing body for Iowa’s state universities instructed its attorney not to engage in such talks until after GOP lawmakers and Governor Terry Branstad had eliminated most public employee bargaining rights under Iowa Code Chapter 20. Bruce Rastetter was the Regents president at the time. He didn’t seek reappointment by Branstad in 2017, as it was clear Iowa Senate Democrats would have blocked his confirmation.
The 2017 amendments to the collective bargaining law left in place the section outlining various “prohibited practices” for public employers. Those include refusing to negotiate in good faith and refusing to bargain with representatives of certified employee organizations.
Read more: https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2019/06/19/iowa-regents-didnt-bargain-in-good-faith-with-uni-faculty-ui-grad-students/
