Indianola, Iowa: Putting the Power Back Where it Belongs

Indianola Education Association teachers union fights bargaining reality

Teresa Kay Albertson has the story in the Des Moines Register.

In Iowa, a 2017 law governing union contract negotiations removed requirements that public employers negotiate with unions over such subjects as health insurance, evaluation procedures, staff reduction and leaves of absence for political purposes, similar to Act 10 passed in Wisconsin.

Indianola Education Association teacher union officials seem surprised school administrators are taking back their authority from teacher unions by offering a handbook which would regulate such issues, such as raises and paid time off.  They believe they should be allowed to negotiate for issues other than base salaries.

The Norwalk school district has already removed benefits from contract negotiations from the teachers’ union, according to Kate Baldwin, the district’s executive director of administrative services. Norwalk passed a two-year contract last year.