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OF LABOR, AFL-CIO 46th ANNUAL CONVENTION
Delegates representing over 50,000 Iowa AFL-CIO union members met in Waterloo on August 14-16,2002 to lay out the Federation’s legislative and political agenda for the next year and to elect officers. No More Business as Usual AFL-CIO President John Sweeney described the AFL-CIO’s "campaign to respect work and strengthen family and our struggle to help more working people organize into our movement." She explained that the concept "respect work" encompasses everything from fair wages to a Union voice at the workplace, and includes immigrant workers in America as well as workers abroad. She warned if our fellow workers in other countries are underpaid and unprotected, "it turns into a race to the bottom for all workers." We "strengthen family" she said, by fighting for family friendly workplaces and building up our family protection programs. A Pro-Worker Agenda Thursday’s keynoter, Senator Tom Harkin blasted Republicans for their refusal to deal with problems facing working Americans. Now that the Democrats control the Senate, Harkin predicted that a pro-worker agenda will emerge that will include: Other speakers included:
MIke Trier, Iowa Industrial Commissioner Officer Election Due to legislative re-districting, the new 2nd Congressional District did not have and incumbent Vice President. Sarah Swisher, SEIU was elected to complete the term of office (August 2005) as 2nd District Vice President. Sarah and the rest of the officers committed work to elect worker friendly legislators in the coming election. Labor Hall of Fame Delegates unanimously elected George Kourpais, IAMAW; and Joe Heger, UFCW to the Federation’s Labor Hall of Fame. Resolutions Delegates passed 16 resolutions dealing with such topics as: Re-election of Senator Harkin, Governor Vilsack and Congressman Boswell Election of labor friendly candidates Social Security Fair Share Right To Organize
If you would like copies of the resolutions, drop us a note or give us a call and we’ll mail them to you. |
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The resolution supports efforts to register union members to vote, educate union members on the voting records of Senator Tom Harkin and his opponent, to get members and their families out to vote for the re-election of Senator Harkin. |
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The resolution supports efforts to register union members to vote, educate union members on the positions and records of Governor Tom Vilsack and his opponent, to get members and their families out to vote for the re-election of Governor Vilsack.
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The resolution supports efforts to register union members to vote, educate union members on the voting records and positions of candidate Ann Hutchinson and her opponent, to get members and their families out to vote for the election of Ann Hutchinson.
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The resolution supports efforts to register union members to vote, educate union members on the voting records and positions of candidate Julie Thomas and her opponent, to get members and their families out to vote for the election of Julie Thomas.
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The resolution supports efforts to register union members to vote, educate union members on the voting records of Congressman Leonard Boswell and his opponent, to get members and their families out to vote for the re-election of Congressman Boswell.
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The resolution supports efforts to register union members to vote, educate union members on the voting records and positions of candidate John Norris and his opponent, to get members and their families out to vote for the election of John Norris.
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The resolution supports efforts to amend Chapter 731 and pertinent sections of Chapter 20 so as to allow Iowa private sector and public sector unions to negotiate fair share clauses into collectively bargained labor agreements.
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The resolution supports continued efforts on the part of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO to support a tax system that is fair and based on ability to pay.
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This resolution urges unions and activists to continue to demand a reversal of the decades long trend toward deregulation. It opposes the placing of profits over people in general. Specifically, demands authentic corporate accountability and an end to corporate corruption of the political system.
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This resolution urges the Federation, local unions and central labor councils to educate members and their families about this issue and to lobby the Congress to oppose this risky privatization scheme. |
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This resolution urges the Federation, local unions and central labor councils to educate candidates and legislators about this issue and urge Congress to revise the National Labor Relations Act to allow for card check recognition, to include real penalties for employers who violate workers' rights to organize, and to mandate binding arbitration to assure a first contract.
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The resolution urges the Federation to support the state of Iowa acting alone or with other states to attempt to negotiate fair drug prices for all of its citizens and failing that, to explore the possibility of the sate and/or states becoming a prescription drug wholesaler, thereby eliminating wholesale mark up based on the need for profit. |
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This resolution urges the Federation, local unions and central labor councils to register members and their families, educate them about working family issues and the candidates' positions on those issue, and make every effort to elect endorsed candidates to the Iowa Legislature. |
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The resolution urges the Federation to support legislation by the Iowa General Assembly and the United States Congress that limits mandatory overtime for health care workers. |
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The resolution urges the Federation to support legislation by the Iowa General Assembly and the United States Congress that establishes safe staffing for health care facilities. |
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The resolution urges the Federation to take a leadership role in resolving this fiscal crisis and restoring adequate revenues for state and local government where corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share by mobilizing our members, participating in rallies, marches and demonstrations and forming coalitions with like-minded allies and lastly supporting politicians who support these goals. |