Union fights collective bargaining law in Iowa

DES MOINES, Iowa - A new Iowa law that eliminates most collective bargaining rights for public workers is unconstitutional and should be immediately blocked, according to a lawsuit filed Monday by a key union in the state.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Iowa Council 61 argues that the law violates language in the Iowa Constitution that ensures equality to citizens. The group — Iowa’s largest state employees union, representing 40,000 public employees — also asked for an injunction to halt the law’s enforcement.

Republican Gov. Terry Branstad on Friday signed the law, which prohibits public-sector unions from negotiating issues such as health insurance and supplemental pay. The law is similar to a 2011 collective bargaining law passed in Wisconsin that sparked large protests and legal challenges.

The lawsuit focuses on aspects of the law that exempt certain public safety employees from some prohibited negotiations. Those exempted workers include some law enforcement officers, firefighters and park rangers.

The lawsuit argues that the law establishes two classes of public-employee bargaining units. The suit says that designation violates language in the state constitution that requires “uniform operation” on laws of general nature and states the Legislature shall not grant privileges or immunities not equally available to all citizens.