Workplace Issues

Economic and General Welfare—Collective Bargaining

• History of Economic and General Welfare Services in Iowa
• Assignment Despite Objection Form

These services are available to members of the Iowa Nurses Association only if a collective bargaining contract is in effect. This happens by 65 % of the registered nurses in non-supervisory positions taking a vote to be represented by a contract that is negotiated with the employer for a two or three year period. Contracts cover critical issues such as: salary, health insurance, retirement plans.

To assist with issues of a written contract in the workplace at the national level, the United American Nurses www.uannurse.org provides information that covers a number of issues including overtime staffing, health and safety, wages & benefits and job security.

The collective bargaining contracts are governed by federal and state labor laws and depend on the ownership status of the employer.

• Private Employers- The contracts are regulated by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) www.nlrb.gov, an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1935 to administer the National Labor Relations Act, the primary law governing relations between unions and employers in the private sector. It guarantees the right to organize and bargain collectively with employers.
• Federal Employer-Veteran’s Administration for contracts of staff at veteran’s facilities
• Iowa Government Employers- Iowa Public Employee Relations Board (PERB) for state, county and municipal employees of Iowa. http://iowaperb.iowa.gov This is part of the Executive Branch of Iowa and was created in 1974 as a neutral agency to promote harmonious and cooperative relationships between government and its employees.

Only if you are a staff person at the following workplaces are you represented by INA for your contract:

• Hamilton Hospital, Webster City
• Jennie Edmondson Hospital, Council Bluffs See Contract [PDF]
• Marshalltown Medical & Surgical Center
• Mitchell County Hospital, Osage
• Central Iowa Veterans Administration Medical Center, Des Moines

Assignment Despite Objection Form

The purpose of this form is to notify hospital administration that you have been given an assignment which you believe is potentially unsafe for the patients or staff.
Download the form (Note: The form cannot be filled out online. Print the form and fill out by hand.)

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