The Tri-City Building & Construction Trades Council has strongly opposed Iowa Senate File 603, arguing that the bill's provisions regarding local construction contracts would significantly harm vital apprenticeship programs.

The Council, a regional coalition comprising 23 trade locals across a nine-county, bi-state area, issued a statement on March 20 urging Iowans to join their efforts in pushing Governor Kim Reynolds to reject the bill. This call came just one day after the Iowa Senate passed SF 603.

The Council criticized the bill, calling it an attack on "valuable apprenticeship programs that have been instrumental in building safe, high-quality buildings and roadway projects across the Hawkeye State," and noted that these programs are essential in creating successful careers for Iowa workers.

The key point of contention lies in an amended section of the Registered Apprenticeship Act. If enacted, the bill would prevent state agencies and local governments from mandating apprenticeship training requirements for private construction projects funded with tax increment financing (TIF) dollars.

Brian Atkins, Executive Director of the Tri-City Council, expressed frustration, stating, “Here we go again; politicians are making it harder for Iowans to earn a living. Apprenticeship programs, a proven pathway to the middle class for generations of hardworking Iowans, are under attack. Politicians in Des Moines, who likely never have swung a hammer or worn a pair of steel-toed boots, have pushed through yet another anti-worker law.”

Supporters of the bill, including some Republican legislators, argue that SF 603 addresses concerns regarding local governments favoring unions in their contracts. However, opponents claim that it would prevent local entities from using training requirements to ensure workforce safety and quality.

In addition to criticizing the bill, Atkins defended apprenticeship programs, saying, “Let’s be clear: apprenticeship programs do not burden taxpayers. They are funded by contractors, both union and non-union, who invest in training the next generation of skilled workers.”

SF 603 was amended to include a new section addressing workforce training, making it illegal for state and local governments to mandate apprenticeship training requirements, except when required by law. Local governments, including cities, counties, and school districts, would also be prohibited from imposing additional "restrictions, qualifications, or requirements" on contractors, subcontractors, developers, and apprentices.

State Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton, who supported the measure, argued that the bill was designed to curb efforts by local governments to favor certain entities, such as unions, when awarding contracts. However, Atkins believes the bill undermines the construction industry’s future in Iowa, regardless of whether contractors are union or non-union.

The Tri-City Council represents workers in a diverse range of construction sectors across several counties in Iowa and Illinois, including Scott, Clinton, and Muscatine counties in Iowa, as well as Rock Island, Mercer, Henry, Knox, Warren, and Henderson counties in Illinois.

Unemployment Benefit Reductions Add to Concerns

The council also voiced strong objections to recent cuts in unemployment benefits for Iowans. Atkins said, "Cutting support for those who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own, while simultaneously attacking apprenticeship programs, sends a clear message: the needs of working families are not a priority. These decisions are not just policy missteps – they are direct hits to the livelihoods and dignity of Iowa’s labor force."

Cory Bergfeld, President of the Tri-City Council and Business Manager for IBEW Local 145, echoed these concerns, stating, “In an era when Iowa is grappling with a shortage of skilled construction workers, our leaders should be promoting apprenticeships, not discouraging them. While we appreciate Gov. Reynolds’ efforts to provide tax relief for working Iowans, Senate File 603 falls short of that goal. Instead, it threatens to accelerate the exodus of young workers who are already leaving the state in search of middle-class job opportunities.”

He warned that if Iowa does not invest in apprenticeship training, the state will continue losing its future workforce to states that prioritize skilled labor development, exacerbating the shortage of construction workers in the state.

Originally reported by QCBJ Staff.