‘Jobs & Economy’ Archives

House Approves Protections To Stop Foreclosures

In an effort to reduce foreclosures, the Iowa House today approved a bill to provide more protection and information for Iowans purchasing a home.

“In these tough economic times, middle class families deserve more financial security before taking out a mortgage. They need complete transparency from their mortgage broker or banker with full disclosure of fees, compensation and accurate loan information,” said State Representative Paul Shomshor of Council Bluffs, who won approval of the bill. (more…)

Tags: Banker, foreclosure, mortgage, Mortgage Broker, Paul Shomshor
Category Jobs & Economy |

Pay Equity & Gender Balance

The Iowa House today approved two bills to end wage discrimination in the workplace and encourage more women to serve on local boards.

“We live in a state where women made about 78 cents for every dollar men made in 2007 and our state ranks 37th among all states for gender wage equity,” said State Representative Vicki Lensing of Iowa City. “This law will send a positive message to all current and potential Iowans that we are a welcoming state to men and women, racial and cultural minorities and people with disabilities.”

Senate File 137 adds pay discrimination to Iowa’s Civil Rights Code. If Iowans perform jobs that require equal skills, effort and responsibility and are performed under the same working conditions, employers are prohibited from paying them lower wages. The bill covers businesses with four or more employees. (more…)

Tags: civil rights, equal rights, pay equity, wage discrimination
Category Jobs & Economy |

More Training for the Unemployed

Led by State Representative Wayne Ford, D-Des Moines, the Iowa House approved House File 623 on Thursday to provide up to 26 weeks of additional unemployment benefits for laid off workers who are retraining for occupations that are determined to be areas where the number of available jobs is growing. 

These added retraining benefits will not be charged against the employer who laid off the workers, because the funding comes from federal job training legislation, estimated to pump $71 million in additional funds into the state’s unemployment trust fund. (more…)

Tags: job training, training, unemployment, Veterans, Wayne Ford, worker training
Category Jobs & Economy, Uncategorized |

Stopping Worker Abuse; Preventing Another Agriprocessors

In response to the Agriprocessors raid in Postville last year, the Iowa House today approved a bill to crack down on corporations and CEO’s who exploit and abuse workers.

“With an unemployment rate of 11.5 percent, families in Postville are all too familiar with the staggering cost of worker exploitation. We must hold corporations and CEO’s who break child labor laws and abuse their workers accountable. This bill is the first step in ensuring this situation never happens again in Iowa,” said State Representative John Beard of Decorah. (more…)

Tags: Agriprocessors, Immigration Raid, John Beard, Postville
Category Jobs & Economy |

Atalissa Bunkhouse Recommendations

State Representative Vicki Lensing, C0-Chair of the Government Oversight Committee,  joined Iowa Governor Chet Culver at a news conference today to outline the first steps the Legislature will take to prevent another abuse case like Henry’s Turkey Service in Atalissa.  

Governor Culver convened a task force to report back to him by April 1, but the task force has already suggested quick action on two bills under consideration by the Legislature.  Senate File 96 would give subpoena power to the Iowa Civil Rights Commission to investigate unfair or discriminatory practices in housing and unemployment.  Senate File 137 makes wage discrimination against any employee, including those with disabilities, an unfair employment practice. (more…)

Tags: Atalissa, Atalissa Bunkhouse, Bunkhouse, disabilities, Henry's Turkey Service, Lensing
Category Jobs & Economy, Oversight |