An estimated 40,000 union workers will cast ballots in the next three months, marking the start of a new certification process for public-sector labor unions that was approved earlier this year in a massive overhaul of Iowa's collective bargaining laws.

A legislative panel voted Friday to advance a framework governing the election processes, despite requests from some labor leaders to delay the process until more of their questions could be answered.

“With such important matters remaining unsettled, we’re concerned that this uncertainty will lead to confusion for all parties as we move forward in this process," said Charlie Wishman, secretary-treasurer for the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO.

At issue is the certification process for unions. Public workers vote to certify unions, thereby granting them permission to collectively negotiate with the state on their behalf.

Previously, unions remained certified unless a member called for a de-certification vote.

But under the state's new collective bargaining laws, which took effect in February, unions must re-certify every time they face a new contract negotiation — typically every two or three years.

They also face higher hurdles for re-certification. Previously, they needed a majority of voters to approve certification. Under Iowa's new laws, they need a majority of all union members, regardless of the number of people who cast a vote.

Rep. Dawn Pettengill, R-Mount Auburn, is chair of the Administrative Rules Review Committee, which voted Friday to advance the rules governing how those elections will be handled.

She said it was important to move them forward because the first round of re-certification elections is quickly approaching. But she said the proposed rules still will receive a public hearing where Iowans can comment on the changes and they will be considered again by the committee.

Amber DeSmet, a representative of Iowa's Public Employee Relations Board, said the first round of elections are schedule occur in September and include about 15 bargaining units representing about 1,200 workers. Those elections will likely be done through the mail and with paper ballots, she said.

But that ramps up in October, with an estimated 600 bargaining units representing about 40,000 people expected to conduct elections.

In cases like that, she said, it makes more financial sense to contract with a vendor to manage the elections, which could be done online or over the phone.

The cost of elections would be subsidized primarily through election fees paid by unions.

Wishman said among his concerns is ensuring that employees can vote while they're at work and that steps are taken to ensure accessibility so all workers who want to vote can do so.

“I think that should be everyone’s goal: that we should provide the fewest barriers to someone voting in an election if they so choose," he said.

Supporters of the changes to certification rules have argued that many of Iowa's unions had not been re-certified since the 1970s when the state's original collective bargaining laws took effect. It makes sense, they say, to ensure unions have the support of their members.

But labor groups fiercely opposed the change, calling them costly, time-consuming and intended to weaken union negotiating power and political influence.