Iowa Judge Rules Against Supervisor for Violating Union Members' Rights

Judge Rules Against Iowa County Official for Union Rights Violation

A recent legal decision in Iowa has highlighted the protection of union rights, as a judge ruled against the chairman of the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors. Matthew Ung faced penalties for his actions that were deemed as interference with AFSCME Council 61 members’ rights.

In the latter part of the previous summer, Ung issued a press release that criticized union members from the Woodbury County Attorney’s Office (Local 3462) for their refusal to agree to a proposal aimed at reducing staffing shortages. Ung accused the union of endangering public safety and advocated for the union's dissolution, suggesting that a direct agreement with the county would be more beneficial. His statement controversially included the personal contact information of the union's president, urging the public to apply pressure on the union members.

However, Todd Copley, president of Council 61, refuted Ung’s claims, stating that staffing issues have been persistent and previous requests for pay increases were denied by the county supervisors. Copley emphasized, “We are not the enemy. The workers rejected the MOU. They are the experts on what’s causing nearly half the positions to remain unfilled. We want this problem fixed. But if you break the law, if you threaten AFSCME members, there will be consequences.”

The judge ruled that Ung’s actions constituted “unlawful interference” with the union members' rights, ordering him to stop such activities immediately. Alongside ceasing his actions, Ung must also publicly acknowledge his legal violation through a statement visible to county employees for 30 days.

Copley remarked on the swift nature of the ruling, stating he had not seen such a quick decision in his 20-year career. “The judge was not messing around on this,” he added. The judgment has been described as a significant triumph for public employees across Iowa. “This decision is a reminder that public employees’ rights are protected under Iowa law, and no elected official is above that law,” Copley concluded.

Further information can be found in the original report here and the related article here.