Better Days?

The Big Lug Nut and AFSCME Iowa Council 61 President Danny Homan are pictured in happier times, when both were living off the fat of the land.

Bitter days is more like it now and the scientific community is united in that fact.

AFSCME Iowa Council 61 announced the results of a membership vote on whether to accept cuts in pay and benefits, this budget year, in exchange for preventing layoffs for union members.

By a margin of 59% to 41%, members agreed to take five days of unpaid leave and giving up about $75 a month in retirement contributions.

66% of union members voted, I believe Homan referred to it as a historic vote with their highest percentage ever.

That's really sad, especially since they mail the ballot to your home and provide a postage paid return envelope.

Homan noted the five unpaid days can be scheduled consecutively, like vacation days, which would allow that employee to qualify for unemployment benefits.

Homan suggested that the state needs to "Raise more revenue" and that can be accomplished by a couple of ways, "Either get rid of some tax exemptions, or, hang on, here comes the big 'T' word, do a tax increase so that the only people balancing the state budget aren't state employees."

There's some sympathy for workers in the private sector who don't get a vote on taking unpaid days, layoffs or pay cuts when their employers face economic hardships.

Let me see if I get this straight.

AFSCME Iowa Council 61 wants you (the taxpayer) to pay more with less earnings because their well compensated members (taxpayer employees) don't want to lose anymore of their benefits that have increased by 151%, five times the rate of inflation, since 1999.

State workers as a group make nearly $5,400 more a year on average in base salary and receive $4,700 more in benefits than their private-sector counterparts.

And you need to shoulder more of the responsibility?

Fat of the land!

Finally, if I was a non-union state employee that lost my job while a less senior union member kept theirs, I would be suing the State of Iowa and AFSCME Iowa Council 61 over this agreement.

The union has a legal responsibility to represent all the workers, whether they are members or not, it seems to me that bargaining away non-union jobs would be a violation of Iowa's "Right to Work" law.

Frankenstein?

Two guys dressed as Fronkensteen at the Capitol did more than Putting on the Ritz when one told the Ragister's Jason Clayworth that he is not a union member but just a concerned citizen.

And the scientific community is united in that fact.

Andrew Williams and Benj Easter are both organizers for AFSCME (ASSME).

Easter's just a newbie, having worked for the union since May 16.

Williams has helped form unions since March 2008, first with SEIU and with AFSCME since April 2009.

Is this worth over $57,000?

Maybe to Frau Blucher.

'UTTIN' ON THE 'IIIIITZ

I'm confused

I thought Corporate America was BAD!?

Some of Iowa's biggest corporations and interest groups helped foot the bill for Gov. Chet Culver's inaugural celebration.

Kirke Financial Services, MidAmerican Energy, Iowa Farm Bureau and Principal Financial Group donated $50,000 each.

Nine companies gave $25,000 each, including John Deere, Pioneer and Wells Fargo.

Here's more of the list:

Kirke Financial Services L.L.C.	$50,000.00
Mid American	$50,000.00
Farm Bureau Management	$50,000.00
Principal Life Insurance Company	$50,000.00
The Rasmussen Group, Inc.	$25,000.00
Interstate Power & Light Co	$25,000.00
Hawkeye Renewables	$25,000.00
Nationwide	$25,000.00
John Deere World Headquarters	$25,000.00
Altria Corporate Services, Inc.	$25,000.00
Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc	$25,000.00
Iowa Tix LC	$16,774.85
Iowa Health Systems	$12,500.00
Iowa Health Systems	$12,500.00
Brownells	$10,000.00
Qwest	$10,000.00
Shrine Bros Corp	$10,000.00
Ameristar Casino Council Bluffs	$10,000.00
Tyson	$10,000.00
Wellmark	$10,000.00
Union Pacific	$10,000.00
BNSF Railway Co	$10,000.00
Bridgepoint Education	$10,000.00
Monsanto Company	$10,000.00
AFSCME	$10,000.00
AFSCME/Iowa Public Employees	$10,000.00
Kehl Family Foundation	$10,000.00
Mediacom Communications Corp	$10,000.00
Riverside Casino & Golf Resort LLC	$10,000.00
Goldstein Group Inc	$10,000.00
Meredith	$10,000.00
Life Investors Insurance Company of America	$10,000.00
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.	$10,000.00
Verizon Corporate SVCS. Corp	$10,000.00
Pfizer Inc	$10,000.00
Rockwell Collins	$10,000.00
Saber Software, Inc	$10,000.00
Anheuser-Busch COS, Inc	$10,000.00
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.	$7,500.00
Wells Fargo Financial, Inc.	$7,500.00
Iowa Health Care Association	$6,000.00
HyVee	$5,000.00
The Oaks Development Co	$5,000.00
Walter's Homes LTD	$5,000.00
Archer Daniels Midland Company	$5,000.00
Anonymous	$5,000.00
ING USA Annuity & Life Insurance Co	$5,000.00
ING USA Annuity & Life Insurance Co	$5,000.00
Iowa Motor Truck Association	$5,000.00
Home Builders Association of Iowa	$5,000.00
AstraZeneca	$5,000.00
General Motors Corporation	$5,000.00
Caseys General Stores	$2,500.00
Bankers Trust	$2,500.00
Care Initiatives, EOE/AA	$2,500.00
Anderson Erickson	$2,000.00
Cash-	$1,717.00
ABCM Corporation	$1,500.00
IFDA Political Action Committee $500.00
United Staff Union of Iowa Political Action $250.00 The Devolder Law Firm $250.00 Merchant Investment Inc. $250.00

Sheet Metal Contractors of Iowa, Inc.$250.00
Iowa Rural Water State PAC$250.00

Here's the obligatory we can't be bought bs...

Brad Anderson, the governor's communications director, said the donations won't make a difference in how the governor relates to the groups and businesses that helped pay for the festivities.

Dummycrats...Aren't they a kick in the ASS!

Oh Danny Boy

Over the weekend, WHO DT had an interview with AFSCME Council 61 President Danny Homan.

Homan comes across more like the President of ASSME and the scientific community is united in that fact.

He was railing about the lies Republicans spread that he'll use "Fair Share" dues to support Dummycrat candidates and that the law won't allow it.

True enough, but the law doesn't allow using dues dollars for personal purchases and that didn't stop former AFSCME President Don McKee a few years ago.

I've been involved as an elected labor leader in the private sector (My John Kerry Moment?), and I was paid by the company in any meeting with them, so there was no additional cost to the union to represent non members in grievances.

As for bargaining, there is no additional cost to a union to bargain a contract whether it represents 100 or 1,000 employees.

I'm sure my buddy Charlie Wishman (CW) will correct my mistakes in a loving and caring fashion.

New Boss Same As The Old Boss?

One event, one outcome with two different headlines.

Homan wins another term heading state union

And

AFSCME Council 61 elects new president

If you're re-elected you are not a new president and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Especially if it's your third term!

Dan Homan, pictured comparing beer bellies with the Big Lug Nut, is the AFSME president.

Under Homan, Iowa's state worker salaries rank in top 10 and Merit, step raises to add $121 million to state wages despite agreeing to a 0 percent across-the-board salary increase.

You grease my palm, I'll grease yours!

Ho Man, What An A-Hole

The President of ASSME, Danny Homan, is apologizing for his use of the term "scab" in reference to advice sought by a member of his union.

Joe Anderson, who previously had been a long time non-member, sought advice and was belittled by Homan.

Anderson hits the nail on the head when he says...

"Does this sound like a man, and an organization, that can be trusted to give nonmembers their 'fair share' of union services?".

"Does anyone truly believe that a 'fair share' fee will change the way Homan and the union treats nonmembers?"

Anderson is opposed to fair share fees because he believes it costs AFSCME the same amount to bargain for 9,000 people as it does to bargain for 20,000, but thinks collecting fees for grievance services is reasonable.

That is almost inline with my argument...

As for bargaining, there is no additional cost to a union to bargain a contract whether it represents 100 or 1,000 employees.

Union time spent in grievance meetings should be absorbed by the employer, because either the union is representing an employee in a disciplinary action undertaken by the employer, or the union is policing the bargained for agreement.

If that's not the case, that union isn't worth a shit and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Push?

I don't think this Ragister headline is accurate...

Lawmaker alleges unethical push by lobbyist

The story states that Representative Dave Jacoby (D-Coralville) said he was pressured to vote for "Fair Share" by the legislative/ political director for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 61.

"The lobbyist said, 'You could have $100,000 in your account to fight off any challenger."

That's not a "push" that's a bribe and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Iowa Code section 722.1 Bribery --

A person who offers, promises, or gives anything of value or any benefit to a person who is serving or has been elected, selected, appointed, employed, or otherwise engaged to serve in a public capacity, including a public officer or employee, a referee, juror, or jury panel member, or a witness in a judicial or arbitration hearing or any official inquiry, or a member of a board of arbitration, pursuant to an agreement or arrangement or with the understanding that the promise or thing of value or benefit will influence the act, vote, opinion, judgment, decision, or exercise of discretion of the person with respect to the person's services in that capacity commits a class "D" felony.