What to know: House Bill 745, sponsored by perennial anti-union lawmakers Rep. Judy Boyle (R-Midvale) and Sen. Ben Toews (R-Coeur d’Alene), will weaken longstanding rights and benefits enjoyed by every public sector union in the state.
• The bill was introduced last week by Boyle into the House Ways and Means Committee and routed to the House Commerce and Human Resources Committee.
• It will be heard at 1:30 p.m. Mountain by Commerce and Human Resources.
• This is a different bill than House Bill 610, which was also sponsored by Rep. Boyle. HB 610 is still being held in committee.
What the bill does: HB 745 could significantly diminish Idaho Education Association’s organizing efforts and ability to communicate with members:
• Targets IEA: The bill places an extraordinary number of restrictions on IEA members. County-level unions are excluded from the bill, effectively only targeting IEA members.
• Limits worksite access: Under HB 745, IEA members will no longer be able to hold union meetings during breaks or otherwise scheduled times at their worksites. IEA members will also be banned from using public buildings for labor-management communication.
• Strangles communication: IEA will no longer be able to contact union members through their employer email systems.
• Diminishes representation: Members will have to jump through bureaucratic hoops to exercise their right to union representation during disputes and disciplinary actions.
• Complicates conflict: IEA members and public school districts will lose more control over how they can solve informal disputes.
• Kicks union members offsite: Union work related to bargaining, mediation and dispute resolutions will be moved outside of work hours and out of school facilities.
• Erodes local control: HB 745 will replace practices negotiated between school districts and union members, gutting local control and reducing flexibility.
• Weakens Children’s Fund: Even IEA’s longstanding Children’s Fund, which has provided more than $1.5 million to Idaho public school families so they can buy essentials like glasses and backpacks and shoes, will be a target under HB 745 because it will be considered an “affiliate” of IEA.
What IEA is saying: “Anti-union lawmakers are running scared because of IEA’s May Matters campaign, and they’re pulling out the stops so they don’t have to deal with the political consequences of years of terrible legislation,” said IEA Associate Executive Director Matt Compton. “They expect Idaho’s public school educators to be bullied into giving up the district and community relationships they have spent decades building. This is the time to show them what IEA can do.”
Raise Your Voice Against HB 745
In just a few minutes, you can help your union defeat HB 745:
• Contact House Commerce and Human Resources Committee members that this is a bad bill for educators, districts, communities and students. It takes only a couple of minutes using this form.
• Download the flyer below this box to spread the word to your fellow union members and other public education supporters.
