DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The Latest on results determining the future of some Iowa union locals (all times local):
4:30 p.m.
An Iowa employment board has released more complete results from union elections linked to a new collective bargaining state law.
The Iowa Public Employment Relations Board released data Wednesday afternoon that shows 436 union locals secured enough votes to keep representing public workers. Separately, 32 locals will essentially dismantle. The impacted workers will be barred from unionizing for two years.
In the end, more 28,400 workers voted by phone and online to keep union representation. A little over 620 voted for decertification of their locals. Those who didn’t participate, which totaled more than 4,000 people, were counted as “no” votes.
The elections are required under a provision of a collective bargaining law approved in February by the Republican-controlled Legislature. Unions now must hold so-called recertification elections before each new contract.
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2:36 p.m.
A state official says about 30 union locals will dismantle following elections required by Iowa’s new collective bargaining law.
Mike Cormack, chairman of the Public Employment Relations Board, based his estimate Wednesday on preliminary results from recertification elections held over two weeks ending Tuesday. He says nearly 430 union units secured enough votes to continue, while 31 units did not. Almost 40 units remain to be counted, which means the tally can change.
More periodic recertification elections were required under a law approved this year by the Republican-majority Legislature that eliminated most collective bargaining rights for public workers.
Cormack says more than 28,400 employees voted, with more than 23,000 supporting retaining their unions and a little over 530 supporting decertification.
Those who don’t participate are counted as “no” votes.
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