Collective bargaining for Iowa public employees has been a sensitive issue since potential changes have been proposed by legislators.

Representative Chip Baltimore says the primary reason why they are considering making changes to collective bargaining is to “level the playing field” with the private sector, so that management can more effectively manage their employees. Legislators are looking to change arbitration rules, workload and schedules and taking out medical insurance as a negotiated item.

Baltimore points out that the groups that are excluded from the bill are those that work in law enforcement and fire departments.

“The jobs they do are just different. When you’re strapping on a bulletproof vest to go to work, we’re going to probably provide a little bit more protections or allow you to have more of a say in what you’re job looks like.”

Despite the changes, Baltimore says they aren’t trying to eliminate employee unions.

“They’re still going to be able to organize. There is still going to be health insurance. In fact the bill requires government entities to provide health insurance, so it’s not like we’re taking that away. We’re not touching their retirement. There are still some fundamental protections in there for collective bargained employees.”

The Senate has already passed its version of the bill and following a public hearing in the House today, they will start debating the bill as early as tomorrow.

You can hear more from Baltimore on today’s Community State Bank Let’s Talk Greene County program.