UNION SALARY: Branstad Wants To Cut Union Pay

On his way out of office two years ago, Governor Culver agreed to a new contract with public workers unions without negotiation.  That likely won’t be the case under Governor Branstad.

The current contract awarded more than $20,000 public union employees a six percent pay raise over two years.

Now Governor Branstad is talking pay cuts, and he says a new study explains why.

The study by the HR consulting firm Aon Hewitt found base pay for state employees was nearly 18-percent higher when compared to other states and private companies.

The same firm also released a study last month saying union worker benefits are also higher than average.

The study noted Iowa could save $116-million by bringing benefit packages in line with the market.

Contract negotiations with Iowa union leaders are scheduled to begin November 16th.