20.1 - PUBLIC POLICY.
20.1 PUBLIC POLICY.
1. The general assembly declares that it is the public policy of
the state to promote harmonious and cooperative relationships between
government and its employees by permitting public employees to
organize and bargain collectively; to protect the citizens of this
state by assuring effective and orderly operations of government in
providing for their health, safety, and welfare; to prohibit and
prevent all strikes by public employees; and to protect the rights of
public employees to join or refuse to join, and to participate in or
refuse to participate in, employee organizations.
2. The general assembly declares that the purposes of the public
employment relations board established by this chapter are to
implement the provisions of this chapter and adjudicate and
conciliate employment-related cases involving the state of Iowa and
other public employers and employee organizations. For these
purposes the powers and duties of the board include but are not
limited to the following:
a. Determining appropriate bargaining units and conducting
representation elections.
b. Adjudicating prohibited practice complaints including the
exercise of exclusive original jurisdiction over all claims alleging
the breach of the duty of fair representation imposed by section
20.17.
c. Fashioning appropriate remedial relief for violations of
this chapter, including but not limited to the reinstatement of
employees with or without back pay and benefits.
d. Adjudicating and serving as arbitrators regarding state
merit system grievances and, upon joint request, grievances arising
under collective bargaining agreements between public employers and
certified employee organizations.
e. Providing mediators, fact finders, and arbitrators to
resolve impasses in negotiations.
f. Collecting and disseminating information concerning the
wages, hours, and other conditions of employment of public employees.
g. Assisting the attorney general in the preparation of legal
briefs and the presentation of oral arguments in the district court
and the supreme court in cases affecting the board. Section History: Early Form
[C75, 77, 79, 81, § 20.1] Section History: Recent Form
86 Acts, ch 1238, § 39, 58; 86 Acts, ch 1245, § 229; 87 Acts, ch
19, § 3; 90 Acts, ch 1037, §1, 2; 2008 Acts, ch 1032, §201
State merit system, see chapter 8A, subchapter IV