UE Local 893 —
Iowa United Professionals

	Jump to: A Decade of Gains
	See also: Fighting to Protect Our Jobs
	Not a Member? Join Us!

In 1982 Iowa United Professionals held its founding convention in Cedar Rapids, IA. Social Workers, Income Maintenance Workers and other State employees from the professional bargaining unit joined together to form an independent union dedicated to rank and file unionism, worker involvement and aggressive action to protect the working lives of the people it represented. The group faced many difficulties in its early years.

Early Victories

The collective bargaining law in Iowa forced them to function for a year with no contract. The first contract was negotiated and took effect July 1, 1984. It contained two additional paid holidays, two more than any other State employee had. To this date we have maintained these two additional paid days off. Real gains were made in the first two year contract which was in effect from 1985 to 1987. This contract contained an average 25% to 35% wage increase over the two year life of the contract, call back pay, hour for hour compensatory time and the biggest achievement of all, language to limit management's right to bump back into the bargaining unit during layoffs.

In 1986 Iowa United Professionals undertook a major review and upgrade of all classifications when the State legislature enacted a comparable worth law. The end result, after years of court battles, legislative lobbying and negotiations, were one and two pay grade increases for most of the bargaining unit some even received greater pay grade increases.

In 1988 the Union added the Cedar County Road Crew to its ranks and enjoyed its first organizing victory.

The Battle Against Privatization

In 1991 the battle against privatization began. IUP organized annual political actions events in Des Moines to lobby against Republican efforts to downsize the bargaining unit. The Branstad regime attempted to take away our 5% pay increase. IUP joined with other Unions representing State employees and sued the State. Victory was ours in the end.

The Leadership of IUP had done well in its first decade, but the leadership of the Union knew, in order to continue to be effective they needed more clout. If they wanted to grow, they needed assistance. If they wanted to continue to improve the working lives of their members they needed a Union with a fighting history of winning battles for the workers. The leadership researched many Unions and decided that the best match for IUP was UE, the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America. IUP had used much of what UE in stood for in the development of IUP and IUP had worked with UE on several issues. UE was (and is) an independent rank and file Union which had as its motto: "The Members run this Union".

The Members Run This Union!

In 1993 the members voted to affiliate with UE. Since that time the number of UE members in Iowa has grown from around 1,000 to close to 6,000. UE Local 893/IUP organized and added to its ranks the State Science Unit, The City of Tipton Workers, and support staff in 6 school districts. Additional UE Locals were also organized in the State.

UE Local 893/IUP fought and won several battles for the State Workers they represent. We fought off attempts by Republicans to weaken Chapter 20, the Collective Bargaining law, we limited and in some cases, such as adoption workers stopped efforts to privatize entirely. We lobbied and successfully defeated an expensive computer system that didn't work and would have displaced workers. We achieved time and ½ for Social Worker II and III's and got them 2 years back pay. The checks to workers ranged from a few dollars to over $6,000.00. Most recently the Union fought to restore 3 million dollars to the State budget, preventing hundreds of layoffs.

As we enter our third decade, the fight goes on. UE Local 893 is currently battling to protect the jobs of the members we represent from further layoffs, fighting for early retirement for workers, fighting day in, day out to protect the members of our Union.

A Decade of Gains:
Key Accomplishments
Of UE Local 893/IUP

State Unit:

• Job Preservation: prevented hundreds of layoffs with active lobbying'

• Fair Representation on the Job: won hundreds of grievances and dozens of arbitrations;

• Two more vacation days than other State employees;

• 40 hours of personal leave, use does not affect conversion of sick leave to vacation; 18 hours to be used just like vacation;

• Improved work hours;

• 6 months of maternity/parenting leave for birth or adoption;

• Call Back pay;

• Stand By Pay;

• Time and ½ for the majority of classifications represented by the Union;

• Two years overtime back pay for Social Worker II and III;

• Seniority language limiting management's right to bump back into the bargaining unit;

• Political action which has limited privatization efforts, protected the collective bargaining law, and limited layoffs from budget cuts.

School Support Staff Units:

• Major improvements in wages, Paid Holidays and Grievance Procedure;

• Insurance benefit premiums contained;

• Insurance benefits negotiated for part timers

• End to favoritism/

City and County Units:

• Major improvements in wages, some more than double what they were without the Union;

• Call Back Pay;

• Stand By Pay;

• Paid uniforms including winter coats;

• Insurance Premiums contained;

• Additional holidays and/or personal days;

• Grievance Procedure.