1. The general assembly declares that it is the public policy of the state to promote harmonious and cooperative relationships between government and its employees by permitting public employees to organize and bargain collectively; to protect the citizens of this state by assuring effective and orderly operations of government in providing for their health, safety, and welfare; to prohibit and prevent all strikes by public employees; and to protect the rights of public employees to join or refuse to join, and to participate in or refuse to participate in, employee organizations.

Terms Used In Iowa Code 20.1

  • Board: means the public employment relations board established under section 20. See Iowa Code 20.3
  • following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute mean the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the said district and territories. See Iowa Code 4.1
 2. The general assembly declares that the purposes of the public employment relations board established by this chapter are to implement the provisions of this chapter and adjudicate and conciliate employment-related cases involving the state of Iowa and other public employers and employee organizations. For these purposes the powers and duties of the board include but are not limited to the following:

 a. Determining appropriate bargaining units and conducting representation elections.
 b. Adjudicating prohibited practice complaints including the exercise of exclusive original jurisdiction over all claims alleging the breach of the duty of fair representation imposed by section 20.17.
 c. Fashioning appropriate remedial relief for violations of this chapter, including but not limited to the reinstatement of employees with or without back pay and benefits.
 d. Adjudicating and serving as arbitrators regarding state merit system grievances and, upon joint request, grievances arising under collective bargaining agreements between public employers and certified employee organizations.
 e. Providing mediators and arbitrators to resolve impasses in negotiations.
 f. Collecting and disseminating information concerning the wages, hours, and other conditions of employment of public employees.
 g. Preparing legal briefs and presenting oral arguments in the district court, the court of appeals, and the supreme court in cases affecting the board.
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