Iowa Senate Bill SSB3158

Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/24
• Refer: 2/6/24

Caption

A bill for an act relating to retention and recertification elections for public employee collective bargaining units and including applicability provisions.(See SF 2374.)

Impact

If enacted, SSB3158 will have significant implications for public employers and employee organizations in Iowa. It emphasizes the need for timely submission of employee lists, which is critical in maintaining orderly elections. The bill's processes ensure that employees are represented accurately when determining whether to retain or replace their bargaining representative. This change aims to provide clarity and rationality in the election process, thereby reinforcing the integrity of collective bargaining procedures.

Summary

Senate Study Bill 3158 (SSB3158) focuses on the procedures surrounding retention and recertification elections for public employee collective bargaining units in Iowa. Under this bill, the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) is required to issue a written notice before conducting such elections. It mandates that public employers must provide a list of employees in the bargaining unit to the PERB within ten days of receiving the notice. This list is essential for determining eligible voters for the election under a collective bargaining agreement due to expire.

Contention

Notable points of contention in discussions surrounding SSB3158 relate to the decertification process. If public employers fail to submit the required employee list, the PERB will decertify the bargaining representative after issuing a notification of failure. Critics argue that the stringent five-day window for compliance could undermine due process for both public employers and employees. Additionally, some stakeholders feel that the bill may favor the interests of public employers at the expense of collective employee representation rights, which could lead to challenges in employee organization and negotiation efforts.