Political Action Update

Political Action Update

Vol. 06-07

March 8, 2006

2006 Legislative Conference

Union Members Lobby Iowa Legislators

One-hundred and twenty union members made the trip to Des Moines to attend the 2006 Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO Legislative Conference held February 27 through March 1.

The first day of the conference included presentations on key issues before the 2006 Iowa Legislature, speeches from Lieutenant Governor Sally Pederson and Democratic candidates for Governor, Mike Blouin, Chet Culver and Ed Fallon, and an evening Hospitality event with legislators and other guests.

Tuesday’s agenda included presentations from legislative leaders and Federation officers and breakouts into State Councils. After lunch, delegates boarded busses to the Statehouse to lobby legislators on issues including:

Increasing the minimum wage;
Fair Share Health Care which would force large profitable employers, like Wal-Mart to pay for their employees’ health care instead of relying on taxpayer-funded health care;
Campaign finance reform;
Car title loans—the Federation supports efforts to cap usurious interest rates charged by these lenders;
Worker Freedom Act, which would prohibit employers from forcing employees to attend meetings to hear the employer’s point of view on religion, politics, or unions;
Performance based contracting, which would allow government entities to pay for energy improvements with funds gained through energy savings; and
Health savings accounts—delegates lobbied legislators against HSAs, which provide little or no benefit for working families and fail to address critical health care issues.

The conference concluded on Wednesday after presentations from Governor Tom Vilsack and AFL-CIO Regional Director Todd Anderson.

55 House Members Vote to Increase Iowa Minimum Wage

Republican Parliamentary Maneuver Negates Vote

On March 6, seven Republicans joined a unanimous House Democratic caucus and voted to increase the Iowa minimum wage to $6.15. Minutes later, six of the seven Republicans who voted for the minimum wage increase then voted for a procedural motion negating their previous vote. (Rep. Bill Schickel (R-Mason City) supported a minimum wage increase on both votes.)

The six Republicans who [briefly] supported a minimum wage increase and then voted to rule the increase out of order were; Richard Arnold (Chariton), David Heaton (Mt. Pleasant), Steven Lukan (New Vienna), Doug Struyk (Council Bluffs), Walt Tomenga (Johnston), and James R. Van Fossen (Davenport).

Polls show that overwhelming majorities of Americans, and Iowans, support raising the minimum wage, which has been stuck at $5.15 per hour since 1997. Interestingly, just last year the Iowa Legislature raised its own wages —by a whopping 24%.

It appears increasingly unlikely that the Iowa minimum wage will be raised as long as Republicans hold power at the Statehouse.

The 2006 Legislative Conference—A Family Affair for Lieutenant Governor Pederson

Iowa Lieutenant Governor Sally Pedersen addressed conference delegates on February 27. Her husband, author and poet Jim Autry, was guest speaker at the banquet on February 28th.

For more Legislative Conference photos.

As Income Inequality Grows Union Advantage Increases

A report by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute reveals that income inequality has increased since the 1980s. The average income of the nation’s poorest families grew by 18.9 percent, while the incomes of the richest families increased by 58.8 percent. In the early 2000s, the poorest one-fifth of families had an average income of $16,780, while the top one-fifth of families had average incomes of more than $122,150, more than seven times as much. The study is based on Census income data that have been adjusted to account for inflation, the impact of federal taxes, the cash value of food stamps, subsidized school lunches and subsidized housing.

According to the report, the biggest cause of growing income equality over the last 20 years has been the decline in wages for the 70 percent of workers who do not have a college degree. Furthermore, the report says one of the main reasons for declining wages is the weakening of unions and the lack of effective labor laws to protect workers seeking to form unions. In fact, of the 10 states with the greatest income inequality, seven were states in the bottom half of union density, and six were right-to-work states (hence the moniker “Right To Work For Less”).

Related to the report’s findings, the Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released union membership figures, which showed an increase in union wage advantage. In 2005, union members had median weekly earnings of $801, compared to $622 for nonunion workers, a 29 percent difference. Clearly, increasing union membership is the best way to increase wages and decrease income inequality.

Source; Voice@Work

Jim Nussle—No Friend of Iowans Who Earn the Minimum Wage

Congressman Jim Nussle has voted again and again against raising the minimum wage. The same Jim Nussle has been cashing larger and larger paychecks—thanks to the seven pay increases that members of Congress have given themselves since the minimum wage was last raised in 1997. While his pay increased from $133,600 to $165,180, Jim Nussle voted to keep people who earn the minimum wage stuck at the 1997 rate of $5.15 per hour. Apparently Nussle’s vision for the future doesn’t include those at the bottom of the economic ladder.

Increasing the minimum wage to $7.25 per hour would directly benefit over 132,000 Iowans.

Increasing Number of Americans Seek Emergency Food Assistance

More than 25 million Americans—including nearly 9 million children and 3 million seniors—receive emergency food assistance each year from America’s Second Harvest—The Nation’s Food Bank Network of charitable agencies. According to the new report, Hunger in America 2006, this represents an 8 percent increase since 2001.

According to the report, nearly 40 percent of the people seeking emergency food assistance have at least one adult working in their household. More than 40 percent of people receiving emergency food report that they have to choose between paying for utilities or heating fuel and food; 35 percent report having to choose between paying rent or a mortgage and food; 32 percent report having to choose between paying for medical bills and food.

Concert

Charlie King & Rebel Voices

Saturday, March 25, 8:00 p.m.

First Unitarian Church

1800 Bell Avenue, Des Moines

$10 at the door

Charlie King has been writing and singing about the lives of working people and workers rights for over 40 years. Pete Seeger has called him “One of the finest singers and songwriters of out time”.

Susan Lewis and Janet Stecher, who perform as Rebel Voices, are accomplished musicians, inspiring entertainers and labor movement educators all wrapped into one great duo.

All three musicians are members in good standing of Local 1000 of the American Federation of Musicians.

You don’t say….

"It's true that some Americans have lost jobs when their companies move their operations overseas," -President George W. Bush speaking in defense of outsourcing jobs during his recent trip to India.

Iowa Senate Votes to Cap Interest Rates on Car Title Loans

The Iowa Senate, on March 1, voted 47 - 3 to pass SF-2276 which places a 21% cap on the interest charged by car title lenders in Iowa. Three Republican Senators, Angelo, Behn and Zieman opposed the measure. The bill, which is supported by the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, now moves to the House where Republican leaders have spoken in opposition to the measure. The passage of SF 2276 marks the third time the Senate has sent car title loan legislation to the House.

Labor Center

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA

In cooperation with the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO presents a conference for union members.

Building Local Union

Membership & Participation

The labor Center invites Iowa union members to a two-day course designed for union leaders, staff, stewards and members interested in building stronger local unions. Topics will include:

Designing a Local Member Recruitment Plan

Creating an organizing structure
Setting targets and goals
Managing member data and lists

Signing up New Members

Developing effective messages
One-on-one communication
Designing leaflets and brochures

Building Union Power Through Member Participation

Organizing around workplace issues
Recruiting and coordinating volunteers
Developing new leaders; reaching underrepresented groups
Educating and involving new members
Case studies of effective local mobilization strategies

Class sessions will be led by Labor Center instructors, University of Iowa faculty and other invited labor leaders and guests.

WHEN:	Thursday - Friday, May 11 - 12, 2006
WHERE:	Iowa Memorial Union (NW corner of Jefferson and Madison Sts.)
TIME:	Sign-in from 8 - 9 a.m. on May 11; Program ends at 3:30 on May 12
COST:	$150 per person (does not include meals or housing, see below)
DEADLINE:	Please register for this program by April 11, 2006