A spokesman for Governor Terry Branstad said that the deal will cost the state upwards of $24 million.
“Though the majority of Iowa taxpayers are picking up a portion of their own health care, they are still picking up a vast majority of the tab for AFSCME employees’ health care,” the spokesman, Jimmy Centers, said in a statement
released to media.
In Iowa, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) represents 40,000 public and private sector employees. AFSCME represents 19,000 state employees covered by AFSCME’s contract with the State of Iowa.
“Arbitrator Behrens’ award found that AFSCME Iowa Council 61’s final offer on health insurance to be the most reasonable,” said AFSCME Iowa Council 61 President Danny Homan.
“As a result of this arbitration award, all employees covered by the State Master Contract and Judicial Branch Contract will pay a minimum $20 per month for an employee health insurance premium, which was the Union’s final offer to the State.
“We are pleased that the arbitrator found in our favor on health insurance. We believe the process worked in such a way as to appropriately balance the interests of state employees and state government.
“Today’s arbitration award shows that Iowa’s current collective bargaining process works.”
Governor Branstad is a RHINO. Republican’s In Name Only are just as big spenders as Democrats.
He is all for this ruling and will never do anything to oppose this huge burden placed on the Iowa taxpayers.
He wants the public employees (union) vote.
Just listen to his SILENCE on this issue!
This is absurd! I pay $822 a month with a $3,000 deductible. Do these people know how the rest of us have to live? I agree with LVS, bring on Scott Walker for president, it still will not solve the problem with Branstad though. He doesn’t have the nads that Walker has and has done as the Governor of Wisconsin.
Odd, I would have figured all the pro union supporters would have been posting their delights and praises of the arbitrators findings.
The $24 million the Governors spokesman mentioned, could have gone a long ways towards other needed projects in the state.
This is pure bull. Bring on Scott Walker. I hope Branstad has the balls to do what is needed.
Most of the arbitrators or negotiators that I have dealt with have had some sort of a union background, so I’m sure its just some sort of an odd coincidence they rule in favor of the union.
“Today’s arbitration award shows that Iowa’s current collective bargaining process works.” In my opinion, this is code for; the unions win and the taxpayers took it in the shorts…again.
$20 a month, what a joke.
Why does everyone else have to pay a rediculous amount for insurance but stat employees get it for $20… We need the governor of Wisconsin here…
Absurd!