DES MOINES, Iowa - Iowa public workers are seeking a three-percent pay raise in each of the next two years.
The Gazette reports the proposal from the state's public workers union (AFSCME Local 61) was made to state negotiators in a zoom call Monday.
The state's expected to make its opening offer later this month for a contract that would go into effect in July.
The union represents almost 20,000 state employees, which includes workers ranging from nurses to corrections officers.
The two sides need to reach an agreement by March 15th to avoid binding arbitration.
A 2017 law passed by the Republican controlled state legislature limits contract talks to mostly wages with cost of living caps.
The Gazette reports union president Danny Homan mentioned two Department of Corrections staff members who have died from COVID-19, while suggesting the contract talks includes other elements such as pay grades.
The current state contract includes a 2.1 percent wage increase that runs through the end of June.