Senate
File
498
-
Introduced
SENATE
FILE
498
BY
BOLKCOM
A
BILL
FOR
An
Act
establishing
a
meatpacking
industry
workers
bill
of
1
rights.
2
BE
IT
ENACTED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
3
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Section
1.
NEW
SECTION
.
84A.12
Meatpacking
industry
workers
1
bill
of
rights
——
duties
and
authority
of
coordinator.
2
1.
The
position
of
meatpacking
industry
worker
rights
3
coordinator
is
established
within
the
division
of
labor
4
services
and
under
the
direction
and
control
of
the
labor
5
commissioner.
The
coordinator
shall
be
appointed
by
the
6
governor
and
serve
at
the
pleasure
of
the
governor.
Preference
7
shall
be
given
to
applicants
for
the
coordinator
position
who
8
are
fluent
in
the
Spanish
language.
9
2.
The
duties
of
the
coordinator
shall
be
to
inspect
and
10
review
the
practices
and
procedures
of
meatpacking
operations
11
in
this
state
as
they
relate
to
the
provision
of
the
Iowa
12
meatpacking
industry
worker
bill
of
rights,
which
rights
are
13
outlined
as
follows:
14
a.
The
right
to
organize
as
protected
by
chapter
731.
15
b.
The
right
to
a
safe
workplace.
16
c.
The
right
to
adequate
facilities
and
the
opportunity
to
17
use
them.
18
d.
The
right
to
complete
information.
19
e.
The
right
to
understand
the
information
provided.
20
f.
The
right
to
existing
state
and
federal
benefits
and
21
rights.
22
g.
The
right
to
be
free
from
discrimination.
23
h.
The
right
to
continuing
training,
including
training
of
24
supervisors.
25
i.
The
right
to
compensation
for
work
performed.
26
j.
The
right
to
seek
state
help.
27
3.
The
coordinator
and
the
coordinator’s
designated
28
representatives
shall
have
access
to
all
meatpacking
operations
29
in
this
state
at
any
time
meatpacking
products
are
being
30
processed
and
industry
workers
are
on
the
job.
31
4.
The
coordinator
may
issue
a
subpoena
to
compel
any
32
person
to
appear,
give
sworn
testimony,
or
produce
documentary
33
or
other
evidence
relevant
to
the
duties
of
the
coordinator
34
authorized
under
this
section.
If
any
person
subpoenaed
35
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498
refuses
to
produce
the
records,
books,
or
papers,
the
1
coordinator
may
apply
to
the
district
court
having
jurisdiction
2
over
that
person
for
the
enforcement
of
the
subpoena.
3
5.
The
coordinator
may
receive
complaints
and
make
4
referrals
to
appropriate
government
agencies
as
necessary
to
5
enforce
the
provisions
of
this
section.
6
6.
The
commissioner
shall
provide
necessary
office
space,
7
furniture,
equipment,
and
supplies
as
well
as
necessary
8
assistance
for
the
coordinator.
9
7.
The
coordinator
shall,
on
or
before
December
1
of
each
10
year,
submit
a
report
to
the
members
of
the
general
assembly
11
and
the
governor
regarding
any
actions
the
coordinator
deems
12
necessary
or
appropriate
to
provide
for
the
fair
treatment
of
13
workers
in
the
meatpacking
industry.
14
EXPLANATION
15
This
bill
establishes
a
meatpacking
industry
workers
bill
of
16
rights.
The
bill
creates
a
position
of
meatpacking
industry
17
worker
rights
coordinator
within
the
division
of
labor
services
18
of
the
department
of
workforce
development
to
be
appointed
by
19
the
governor
and
who
shall
grant
preference
to
Spanish-speaking
20
applicants.
The
bill
grants
to
the
coordinator
the
right
to
21
inspect
and
review
the
practices
and
procedures
of
meatpacking
22
operations
to
ensure
specific
rights
of
meatpacking
workers
as
23
enumerated
in
the
bill.
The
coordinator
is
granted
access
to
24
all
meatpacking
operations
in
Iowa,
may
issue
subpoenas,
compel
25
testimony
or
documentary
evidence,
and
enforce
the
subpoenas
26
in
district
court.
The
coordinator
may
receive
complaints,
27
make
referrals
to
government
agencies,
and
must
make
an
annual
28
report
to
the
general
assembly
and
governor.
Office
space,
29
equipment,
and
general
direction
and
control
shall
be
provided
30
by
the
labor
commissioner
although
the
coordinator
serves
at
31
the
pleasure
of
the
governor.
32
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