The new pact that Branstad would like to renegotiate provides base wage increases of 2 percent on July 1 and 1 percent on Jan. 1 in each of the next two fiscal years along with 4.5 percent yearly step raises for eligible state workers.

“We think there needs to be some adjustments,” said Branstad. He noted that President Obama recently ordered a two-year pay freeze for federal workers that “do not have any bargaining rights,” adding “I would love to have that authority.”

However, Branstad and legislative Republicans shouldn’t expect change anytime soon because Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, said it’s “a safe assumption” that the collective bargaining bill will not be debated in his chamber where Democrats have a 26-24 advantage.

“It’s an all-out attack on the middle class and I think it’s a mistake for the Republicans to do that. We’re going to fight it every step of the way,” Gronstal said. He said it’s time for legislators to work together in ways that will spur jobs and recovery from a tough economic recession not “pit Iowans against Iowans.”