January 18, 2008

Governor Challenges Legislators:  “Debate Labor’s Issues”

   In his Condition of the State speech, Governor Chet Culver challenged legislators to “find consensus” and further the Iowa tradition of “fairness in the workplace.”  A good starting point for a discussion of labor’s issues, he said, is the fact that “Iowa currently ranks 41^st in the nation in the wages we pay our workers.”  The Governor called upon legislators “to not be afraid to debate difficult issues,” like:

¨ Prevailing wage

¨ Independent contractor reform

¨ Choice of doctor

¨ Fair share

¨ The right to bargain matters like employee discipline and discharge.

 The Governor also outlined several other plans, including expanding preschool opportunities for Iowa 4-year-olds, making college more affordable, and expanding health care coverage.    

   Our challenge:  make sure our legislators stand with workers on these important issues.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
1929—1968

Remembering the Memphis Strike  

   The AFL-CIO will hold its 2008 Martin Luther King Jr. holiday observance on Jan. 17–21 in Memphis, Tenn., to mark the 40th anniversary of the Memphis sanitation workers' strike. 

   This strike was Dr. King’s final campaign. He was assassinated in Memphis in 1968 while supporting these striking workers.  He died April 4th; on April 16th, the strike was settled, and the strikers returned to work under an AFSCME contract.

Dr. King on Labor and the Depression of the 1930’s: 
    “The labor movement was the principal force that transformed misery and despair into hope and progress. Out of its bold struggles, economic and social reform gave birth to unemployment insurance, old age pensions, government relief for the destitute, and above all new wage levels that meant not mere survival, but a tolerable life.

   The captains of industry did not lead this transformation; they resisted it until they were overcome. When in the thirties the wave of union organization crested over our nation, it carried to secure shores not only itself but the whole society.” 

Illinois AFL-CIO Convention, October 1965

Working America Update

From the time Working America opened its doors in Des Moines last Spring to the last day of canvassing in Eastern Iowa at the beginning of November, Working America canvassers knocked on 70,000 doors and talked to 35,000 people about issues that matter, educating members on important campaigns like the Employee Free Choice Act and the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

Their message: “We know you're not part of a union, but you probably have the same concerns we do about jobs and schools and health care. Would you like to become an individual member of the AFL-CIO?”

"Astonishingly," says Karen  Nussbaum, Executive Director of Working America, "two out of three people we talk to join."

There are now 25,869 Working America members in the state who will continue to learn about economic issues and ways they can make a difference.

Working America members in Iowa will play a big role as we mobilize for the electoral and legislative struggles we are facing in the next year.  Ask your friends, family and neighbors to help build the power of working families by contacting Working America at www.workingamerica.org.

Campaign Note:

Rudy Giuliani is running on a platform which includes “moderate regulations in
regards to safety and security.”  12/18/07, Interview with Foster’s Daily Democrat, Dover, NH

Labor Center

in cooperation with the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO,  presents:
2007-08 Courses for Union Members

Wage and Hour Law — the Fair Labor Standards Act

· Understanding workers’ rights under the law

· Interaction with collective bargaining and contract provisions

· Union strategies for protecting rights at work

IFL Legislative Conference

The conference will be held at Adventureland Inn, I-80 at Highway 65, Altoona, Iowa 50009, Phone 1-800-910-5382.  You will need to make your own room reservations.  The room cost is $65 + tax per night.  The deadline for room reservations is February 15, 2008.  Our IFL group number for this room rate is #1113.

Registration is $130 per person, which includes materials plus 3 lunches, Monday evening hospitality and Tuesday dinner.  Make checks payable to Iowa Federation of Labor AFL-CIO. 

Iowa Federation of Labor,  AFL-CIO

Lobbyist Meeting

10:00 Monday Mornings

2000 Walker Street

Des Moines, Iowa

SAVE THIS DATE

Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO

Legislative Hospitality

Monday Evenings

5:00 - 7:00

Machinists Hall

2000 Walker Street
Des Moines

You’re invited!

Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO

C.O.P.E. Convention

April 12

 USW Local 310 Hall

125 NW Broadway

Des Moines, Iowa

Act Now.   Contact your State
Representative on Fair Share!

   Last year the Iowa Senate passed SF 413, a bill that would allow Iowa public sector unions and employers to negotiate a clause in their contract that would require employees covered by the contract to either pay dues or pay that portion of dues that reflects costs attributable to collective bargaining.  The bill was not debated by the full House and is still alive for 2008.

   Please contact your representative now to let them know that you support SF 413 and want them to vote for the bill, even if you have contacted them before on this issue.

Contacting your Representative

By e-mail:  firstname.lastname@legis.state.ia.us

By phone:  Representatives: 515-281-3221

To identify your representative, go to
http://www.legis.state.ia.us/FindLeg/Default.aspx

Please do it today!