DES MOINES (February 16, 2017): In response to the passage of today’s bill that limits negotiations for non-public safety workers to wages only, the following statement may be attributed to National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Iowa State Director, Matt Everson:
Public unions currently hold tremendous power over Iowa’s state and local governments. Restricting their bargaining rights will empower local governments to manage their employees better and base additional employment incentives on job performance instead of contractual obligation. This will ultimately reduce labor costs for municipalities and state agencies, and increase Iowa’s ability to oversee its workforce in the future. Anytime that the state takes a step towards ensuring fiscal stability in the long-term, it provides the small business community with the confidence it needs to grow and prosper.
Small business owners have spent a decade adjusting to the post-recession economy, and today’s bill will allow the state workforce to begin to shift in that same direction. Due to restrictions on contract negotiations in the past, the cost of public employees has grown disproportionate to our economic growth. These skyrocketing labor expenses have been a burden to Iowa’s hard-working taxpayers. Today’s action will reduce that burden and empower our economy as a whole.