Culver Order Pleases Labor Unions

Des Moines Register
By WILLIAM PETROSKI • bpetroski@dmreg.com • February 4, 2010

Gov. Chet Culver bolstered his ties to organized labor Wednesday by signing an executive order sought by construction unions, although he quickly emphasized he won't try to repeal Iowa's right-to-work law.

Critics seized on the issue and indicated Culver's support for unions could become a rallying cry for Republicans as they try to oust the Democratic incumbent in the fall election.

Culver signed an executive order Wednesday that will require all state departments and agencies to consider using so-called project labor agreements, known as PLAs, on large state construction projects. He received a standing ovation from union members attending the 57th annual state convention of the Iowa State Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO, at the Hotel Fort Des Moines.

A PLA is an agreement designed to coordinate labor relations, including wages and benefits, between multiple construction trade unions and contractors on a specific construction site. Supporters say PLAs ensure that large projects are completed on time and in an efficient manner. Opponents disagree, saying the deals discriminate against nonunion contractors and drive up costs for taxpayers.

Culver's critics said they were alarmed at Culver's executive order, describing it as a significant effort to erode Iowa's right-to-work law, which is more than six decades old. The law means that employees who work in Iowa, except on federal property or for a railway or airline, have a right to resign from union membership and not pay union dues or fees. Twenty-one other states have right-to-work laws, mostly in Southern and Western states.

"This is the first step towards eliminating the right-to-work law in the state of Iowa," said Mike McCoy of Ames, chairman of Associated Builders and Contractors of Iowa, a nonunion industry group.

"If the state department leaders actually follow this recommendation, it will prohibit basically all of our members from competing on state work, which is not a good thing for taxpayers," said McCoy, who is also president of ACI Mechanical of Ames. He estimated eight of 10 Iowa construction workers would be frozen out of working on state government construction projects.

The Iowa Department of Corrections is scheduled to break ground this year on two major construction projects: a $131 million maximum-security prison at Fort Madison and a $68 million renovation and expansion of the Mitchellville women's prison.

As Culver left the labor convention, he was asked about the possibility of repealing the right-to-work statute. After Democrats gained controlled of the governor's office and the Iowa House and Senate, it had appeared Iowa's right-to-work law could become history. But Culver didn't hesitate Wednesday to say he won't seek a repeal.

"I don't believe we are going to do that," Culver said. "There are a lot of exciting things on the table at the Statehouse. It is unclear in terms of what particular steps we might take to help hardworking families, but I know that the Democratic Party is interested in fighting for those families, and making some progress in terms of helping those families out, especially during these tough economic times."

Iowa Republican Party Chairman Matt Strawn had a different view: "Instead of attempting to pacify the big labor bosses that fund his campaign, Gov. Culver should be aggressively marketing Iowa as a right-to-work state. Today's order, while completely symbolic in nature, sends Iowans and job creators a clear signal that his priorities are elsewhere."