Mission Statement
To advocate legislation and policies that support mutually beneficial employment relationships free from government intrusions in the free-market. To advocate for workforce initiatives, a market-driven employee benefit system and a fiscally sound unemployment compensation system providing benefits to those who become unemployed through no fault of their own.
Workforce Recruitment, Retention and Development
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Iowa businesses face a critical need for qualified professionals for both entry level and skilled positions. |
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ABI supports the use of incentives and educational programs to encourage businesses, educators, and government to develop programs to address the workforce needs in Iowa.
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ABI encourages attracting and retaining diversity in Iowa’s workforce. |
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ABI encourages policies and practices by the private-sector and government to support, simplify and expand legal immigration into Iowa as one aspect to addressing such needs. |
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Right to Work
ABI supports Iowa’s Right to Work law as a vital freedom for all Iowans. No one in the public sector or in private industry should be forced to join a union or pay dues or fees to a union in order to get or keep a job.
Public Sector Employment
ABI opposes any expansion to the current scope of bargaining in Iowa Code Chapter 20. ABI also opposes any changes which would erode the authority of public bodies with relation to employment, including but not limited to Iowa Code Chapter 279 (public school boards). Such changes would significantly impact the costs to local governments, placing additional burdens on taxpayers.
Iowa Education
Iowa must address its educational system and return it to leadership status among the states. ABI supports early childhood education, performance-based education and statewide accountability standards. ABI supports public policy initiatives that encourage schools and adult education programs to improve the financial literacy of all people.
Scope of Iowa Civil Rights Act
ABI believes the current scope of the Iowa Civil Rights Act should not be expanded by the addition of new, protected classes or the creation of additional remedies.
Prevailing Wage
ABI opposes establishment of a prevailing wage in publicly funded construction projects.
Minimum Wage
ABI believes the Iowa minimum wage should not exceed the federal minimum wage.
Unemployment Compensation One-Week Waiting Period
ABI supports permanent adoption of the one-week waiting period prior to becoming eligible for unemployment benefits. One of only 14 states without this provision, Iowa forfeits Federal Unemployment Tax Act funds for extended benefits.
Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund
The Unemployment Compensation (UC) Trust Fund, including the Unemployment Reserve Fund, consists of funds paid by employers for the sole purpose of providing unemployment compensation benefits. ABI opposes any efforts to change the Funds’ purposes.
ABI opposes any attempt to change from using the combined UC Trust and UC Reserve Funds in the calculation of tax rate tables.
ABI supports protecting the UC Trust Fund and UC Reserve Fund to guarantee that the monies are used only to pay unemployment compensation benefits.
Unemployment Benefits Eligibility Requirements
ABI supports increasing the eligibility requirements for qualification for unemployment compensation benefits to ensure that only those individuals with actual attachment to the workforce are eligible. This might include:
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requiring a minimum of 20 weeks of earnings in a base period;
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requiring earnings in a non-high quarter to be 50% of the high quarter earnings rather than 25%;
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requiring earnings of ten times a claimant’s weekly benefit amount to re-quality for a second benefit year;
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repeal of the provisions that automatically increases wage credits by 50% to allow 13 additional weeks of benefits where a business closing is involved; and
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disqualifying benefits in labor disputes, including lockouts.
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Health Insurance Coverage
ABI supports all reasonable initiatives that will reduce and stabilize the growth of premiums, including:
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increased flexibility for employers to pool together to purchase health insurance for their employees and maintain existing protections of Iowa’s small group health insurance law;
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focused tax credits and other incentives for employers to maintain coverage and decrease the number of uninsured Iowans; and
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increased rating flexibility and incentives for voluntary wellness initiatives.
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Health Care Reimbursement
ABI supports appropriate reimbursement levels for Medicare and Medicaid programs to cover the cost of the care of the program recipients.
Health Insurance Mandates
ABI opposes the establishment of health care benefit mandates which require Iowa employers to contribute to the health insurance premium cost for full and part-time employees. ABI further opposes mandates requiring specific coverages.
ABI supports the efforts of the private market in establishing reimbursement levels for providers. ABI opposes legislation that mandates equalization of pay for health care services.
