The union that represents nearly 600 state law enforcement employees is asking for a four percent pay increase in each of the next two state fiscal years. This month state government managers have begun negotiations with a variety of unions that represent state workers. The State Police Officers Council is the union for Iowa State Troopers, special agents in the Division of Criminal Investigation and the Division of Narcotics Enforcement as well as state fire inspectors, Iowa conservation officers and state park rangers.

Representatives of the union for those workers call their pay hike proposal “very reasonable” because for many years state law enforcement officers did not take pay increases. This union was the only bargaining unit in state government that began paying 20 percent of their health insurance premiums after Governor Branstad took office in 2011 and state law enforcement officials are hoping that is taken into account by Branstad’s negotiators when considering the pay hike request.

On Monday, the union that represents tha largest share of state workers filed its initial contract offer. AFSCME is asking for an eight percent across-the-board pay raise for 18-thousand state workers over the next two years. Negotiations between the unions and Branstad’s top managers will resume in two weeks.

(Radio Iowa)