• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Republicans say insurance cost raises concern for AFSCME contract

Republicans say insurance cost raises concern for AFSCME contract

February 25, 2003 By admin

Republican legislators reviewing details of the collective bargaining agreement reached between the state and the largest union for state workers are raising a red flag about one expense. House Speaker Christopher Rants of Sioux City says two percent pay raises in each of the next two years seems “reasonable,” but he’s worried by the state’s pledge to pay a greater share of health insurance premiums.The State soon will pay 85 percent of health care premiums for its employees, and Rants says the average employer pays about 72 percent. Rants says that may not be sustainable for the state, given dramatically increasing health care costs. The contract also calls for letting employees pay to get their “domestic partner” covered under their insurance plan. In addition, the union got language inserted in the deal that bars the state from forcing workers to take unpaid furloughs rather than layoffs. Rants says that means the union has chosen layoffs as opposed to letting folks keep their jobs and take a few days of unpaid leave. Rants says by doing that, the union’s almost guaranteeing that some form of layoffs will occur.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Employment and Labor, Legislature, Republican Party

Featured Stories

Bill would limit placement of solar arrays on farm ground

Marquette casino moving to land, leaving only 2 casino boats in Iowa

Reynolds signs her ‘school choice’ bill into law

Governor Reynolds touts 2024 Iowa Caucuses in Inaugural Address

University of Iowa grad presiding over U.S. House Speaker vote

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

No coaching changes coming for Iowa football

Iowa State names new receivers coach

No. 2 Iowa visits No. 1 Penn State in wrestling dual Friday night

Iowa’s Clark brings increased exposure to women’s basketball

No. 18 Iowa State women visit TCU

More Sports

Archives

Copyright © 2023 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC