Townsend: Iowa’s anti-worker legislation exacerbates worker shortages

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 704 Business Manager Tom Townsend joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed how anti-worker legislation in Iowa has exacerbated worker shortages in the building trades.

With a jurisdiction near several state borders, Local 704 represents 300 workers in Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa, a So-Called “Right to Work” state. 

Iowa has a legislature that is not friendly to unions and has passed numerous laws that negatively impact working families, Townsend said.He mentioned three examples: 

• In 2017, lawmakers passed a bill that stripped the collective bargaining rights of public employees. 
• Unemployment benefits have been cut from 26 weeks down to 14 weeks. 
• Workers' compensation benefits have been cut by 80 percent. 

Local 704 members can make $28 more an hour in Illinois, and enjoy better unemployment and workers’ compensation benefits than they would receive in Iowa, Townsend said. It has become harder to fill jobs in Iowa without the benefit of a competitive wage, he added.

Townsend also discussed solar projects in Local 704’s jurisdiction.

Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics.