Court rules in favor of Polk County in labor agreement dispute

A legal fight over a special labor agreement for the Iowa Events Center sports arena in Des Moines is over. Backers say the “project labor agreement” for the arena ensures quality and speed of construction, but opponents say it ensures union workers get the construction jobs. The Iowa Supreme Court today rules the agreement does not violate Iowa’s “Right to Work” law. The court case had threatened to delay construction of the Events Center, but Polk County officials say the Supreme Court’s decision gives them the “green light” to move ahead. The Associated Builders and Contractors of Iowa is “disappointed with the ruling, which they say will force the Iowa construction workforce to “go to the union hall” to be able to work on the project. The Republican-led legislature had tried to pass a law nullifying the agreement, but Democrat Governor Tom Vilsack knocked it down. That’s when the builders went to court to try another avenue.