(Iowa) 98 percent in state union ratify contract (a warning to Gov.-elect (R) Terry Branstad)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20101224/NEWS10/12240335/-1/EDITORPICKS/98-percent-in-state-union-ratify-contract

By JASON CLAYWORTH and JENNIFER JACOBS • [e-mail] • December 24, 2010

Overwhelming ratification of a new contract by the largest state employee union serves as a warning to Gov.-elect Terry Branstad, who wants to reopen negotiations, some union members said Thursday.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees approved the contract, with a 6 percent pay increase split over 2011 and 2012, with 98.2 percent voting in favor.

"I think it will be difficult for the governor to have the members agree to something unless there is a substantial payoff of some kind," said Andy Bock, a library assistant at Iowa State University and president of Local 96 of AFSCME.

The union represents about 13,000 state employees. It and two other state-worker unions have reached agreements with departing Gov. Chet Culver, a Democrat, for contracts containing similar pay increases.

"It does send a message," said AFSCME member Deborah Babb, a safety enforcement officer at Iowa Workforce Development. "State employees have taken a hit, and we've shown that we're willing to work with them ... but I think the contract that was offered is fair and equitable, and I don't think the budget needs to be put back on the workers across the state."

The national recession battered revenues of Iowa and other states. Unions that represent most state employees have agreed to furloughs, wage freezes and cuts to retirement accounts in the past two years. AFSCME, for example, agreed in November 2009 to five unpaid days off and a cut of about $75 a month in retirement contributions, saving the state more than $26 million.


FULL story at link.