In Iowa, teachers recently had the opportunity to vote on whether they wanted to remain in a union.

They voted overwhelmingly “yes.”

“Thirteen bargaining units representing nearly 1,300 Iowa teachers and faculty have voted overwhelmingly to maintain their union affiliations in the first wave of elections required under Iowa’s new collective bargaining laws.

“Iowa Public Employment Relations Board staff tallied votes Tuesday, as the two-week voting period drew to a close.

“Of the 1,291 eligible voters, 1,101 voted in favor of maintaining their union’s bargaining unit while 27 voted to dissolve them. Sixteen ballots were voided and 147 people did not vote.

“I think it’s silly we had to do this, but our people understood what’s at stake and they voted, and I think they sent a message,” said Iowa State Education Association President Tammy Wawro.

“Public-sector workers have always voted to certify their unions, granting them permission to collectively negotiate contracts and pay on their behalf. They only faced elections if one of their members petitioned for decertification.

“But the state’s new collective bargaining laws, which took effect in February, instituted a much steeper hurdle for unions to maintain that authorization.

“Now, public-sector unions must re-certify every time they face a new contract negotiation — typically every two or three years.

“They also need to win approval from a majority of all employees covered under their contracts — not just a majority of people who vote in the election — or see their bargaining unit dissolved.”

Republicans in the legislature were carrying out their marching orders from ALEC, which not only to destroy unions but to crush any organized opposition to their corporate agenda.