Iowa and Wisconsin have more in common than one might think. Aside from being cold and flat, both states are trying to limit union rights under the guise of a busted state budget.
Yesterday, hundreds of union members in Iowa spoke up against House Bill 525, which proposes significant limitations on the rights of unions to bargain for healthcare benefits and negotiate layoffs.
More than 60 people spoke at the Statehouse in Des Moines, including Matt Ballard, President of Teamsters Local 90, also in Des Moines.
Ballard explained that Rep. Lance Horbach, who ramrodded HB 525 through the Labor Committee, is an insurance agent who would benefit from the legislation he helped pass in committee via a party-line vote. Said Ballard,
And from Erie, Pa.:[Under HB 525,] Rep. Horbach and other agents like him will be able to sell insurance without any real competition. If we let them drive insurance costs up without competition, the costs of insurance premiums will skyrocket unchecked, raising taxes and making all of us suffer.
Unions and competition are as Americans as apple pie. This bill is not only anti union, it is un-American. I am appalled that this bill seeks to exclude the wages of union workers from comparables. That is nothing but pure discrimination seeking to punish union workers.
Teamsters from Local 397 in Erie joined hundreds to show solidarity with state employees in Wisconsin and working families across the country Monday evening at a rally. With a bright banner and dozens of “Stop the War on Workers” signs, Local 397 members marched in a parade that stretched three city blocks. The event started at 6 p.m. and ended in Perry Square, where participants sang, banged drums, and addressed the crowd. Local 397 Secretary-Treasurer Steve Getz saidFinally, from Oregon:
Not only are unions, but our entire middle class is under attack right now. It’s important to show our representatives that we’re not going to take this. People have sacrificed a lot to get where we’re at and we’re not going to take it.Teamsters were joined by members of other unions, concerned citizens and community activists. Getz called on all working-class people to stand together. He has hope that through solidarity, the future will be bright.
We all need to stand as one right now. People need to realize that this is going to trickle down to everyone else if we don’t take a stand here and now.
There might not be any anti-union legislation on the table in Oregon, but that didn’t stop Teamsters from every local in the state from standing up in solidarity with working people across the country.
More than 500 union supporters attended a rally Monday, March 7 in Salem to denounce the nationwide war on workers and show support for public-sector employees under attack in Wisconsin, Ohio and other states. Said Chris Muhs, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 324 in Salem,
Everyone had a fundamental right to bargain a contract, regardless of who they are or where they live. We need to have unity everywhere.At the rally, Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber promised to support pro-worker legislation. Muhs said he and others appreciated the sentiment, but took the words with a grain of salt.
Like any politician, we have to hold Kitzhaber accountable. He made it clear that he is going to be asking for some concessions, but said he would do so at the table with dignity and respect. The working families who voted for Kitzhaber need to make sure he stays true to his word.
Muhs said he feels a strong connection with working families across the country and is inspired by the national show of solidarity.
I’m incredibly proud of how well we’ve come together with this issue. I think it’s a testament to the unity we have. I think this is the beginning of wonderful new things for the Teamsters and other unions across this country.
