Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/823056
COMMUNIQUÉ A PUBLICATION OF THE IOWA STATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION – APRIL/MAY 2017 – Vol. 54, No. 6 IN THIS ISSUE: Why Union? Outreach to Teach Delegate Assembly Report 3 8 10-11 Set it... Set it... and forget it! and forget it! EFT AVAILABLE NOW! EFT AVAILABLE NOW! Legislative wrap-up Small local, big action When I woke up on the morning of November 9th, 2016 and began to digest the loss of our pro-public education, pro-labor goalie in the Iowa Senate, I anticipated significant legislation to undermine the Iowa State Education Association's mission and values. I knew from the experience of other states the new Republican majority, in control of both legislative chambers and the governor's office would follow a conservative playbook meant to dismantle unions and privatize public education. The reality was worse than imagined. Supplemental State Aid Under the leadership of the Branstad/Reynolds administration, working Iowans experienced an all-out attack on many foundational, previously bipartisan principles Iowa operated under for decades. Within the first 30 days of the 87th General Assembly, lawmakers set a woefully inadequate Supplemental State Aid rate of 1.11 percent for Fiscal Year 18, SF 166. But they did not set the rate for FY 19 and added language in this bill to eliminate the previous requirement to set the SSA rate 18 months in advance so school districts had time to plan. This meager $40 million continues a streak of eight years of grossly insufficient funding in our most vital resource as a state, our students. Simultaneously, the governor's office recommended the first of two "budget adjustments" for the current fiscal year. SF 130 removed $113.3 million from FY 17, including a cut of more than $3 million to our community college system. This set the tone for the remainder of the session because general fund resources were tight, due to $500 million in tax credits flowing out of the state. Collective Bargaining By the end of January, rumors swirled about attacks on public employees and their unions. However, it wasn't until the fifth week of session when we finally saw HF 291, a bill that would dismantle our collective bargaining rights and define the 87th General Assembly. The bill was rushed through the committee process in 10 days and signed by the governor on February 17th, 2017. It took effect upon signature. The bill was discussed in "secret meetings" according to Senate floor manager, Sen. Jason Schultz (R-Schleswig) without consultation with the Democrats or the people it affected. In addition to limiting the mandatory scope of negotiations to base wage only, the bill included additional provisions aimed specifically at public education professionals, including removing the elimination of grievance procedures for teacher termination. The legislation also eliminated dues deduction and created an unprecedented system of certification elections. Our attempts to work with the Republican leadership in both chambers, before and during the unusually expedited process were rebuffed, despite reports to the contrary. In spite of the intense opposition to this terrible legislation - including a night when more than 4,000 public employees and our supporters flooded the state Capitol for a public hearing in advance of the bill's passage - the collective bargaining statutes created 40 years prior, under the guidance of Republican Governor Robert Ray, were completely dismantled in less than two weeks. West Lyon Education Association shares its story at NEA Leadership summit These days you'd be hard-pressed to stay around Inwood, Iowa, for any length of time and not hear a bit about the West Lyon Education Association. Members are raising money for the library, organizing canned food and supply drives for the local food pantry and the one in nearby Larchwood, and mobilizing to pass school bond referendums. It wasn't always like this. Just five years ago the WLEA was, in the words of co- president Shane Peterson "a stagnant organization that met once a year to vote on a negotiated contract." It was then a core group of WLEA members decided FOLLOW US ON: see LEGISLATIVE on page 7 see WEST LYON on page 12 The dome of the Iowa Capitol as viewed through the trees in front of the Iowa Department of Education. ISEA Government Relations Specialist Melissa Peterson recaps the 2017 legislative session.