Why should you join?

The Federation is a coalition of unions. It is the official organization of the National AFL-CIO in Iowa.

The goals of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO are social and economic justice. Achievement of these goals is made possible through the collective strength of our affiliates. By combining the talent, energy, activism and sense of justice of all of our affiliates, the Federation seeks to promote legislation that will enable the government to be responsive to the needs of working people and their families. The Federation seeks to:

• secure legislation which will protect and promote collective bargaining, the rights of workers, farmers and consumers and the security and welfare of all the people;

• help workers and local unions to secure improved wages, hours and working conditions;

• promote and encourage all unorganized workers to join unions;

• promote the sale and use of union-made goods and union services through the use of the Union Label;

• promote the Labor Press and carry on a sound and responsible public relations program;

• encourage workers to register and vote, to exercise their full rights and responsibilities of citizenship and to perform their rightful role in the political life of their local, state and national communities.

• unify and coordinate the efforts of AFL-CIO unions and Central Labor Councils in Iowa and serve as a representative on issues that affect our members as workers and as citizens.

Our affiliates are local unions, central labor councils, state and district councils and auxiliaries (affiliated with International Unions affiliated with the National AFL-CIO). The Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO is made up of more than 400 local unions and 50 councils representing over 55,000 members.

A Powerful Voice in Legislation

The Federation is the voice of its membership at the Statehouse in Des Moines. Our Executive Vice President serves as a full-time lobbyist for the Federation. and works to ensure that the laws that are passed are beneficial to working people and their families.

We are concerned with legislation affecting unions, especially the right to organize and bargain collectively. We address the day to day issues that concern workers, including fair taxes, Workers’ Compensation, health care, unemployment compensation, education, consumer protection, social welfare and the environment.

The Federation compiles voting records on each state legislator. Each year the voting record is distributed to the members so they know how their legislator voted on issues of concern to them.

These voting records are also considered by our Committee on Political Education (COPE) when making recommendations on candidate endorsements for elections. Knowledgeable voters can hold legislators accountable for their votes.  back

Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO works to educate members politically, endorse candidates for office, and encourage workers to register, vote and exercise their full rights and responsibilities as citizens.

We conduct a comprehensive program to register  all AFL-CIO members in Iowa, Provide information to them on the issues and positions of the candidates, and encourage them to vote in elections.  Voting records compiled by the Federation and questionnaires on issues important to workers are used to make endorsements for candidates.  Delegates of affiliates meet at biennial COPE Conventions, held in election years, to consider these endorsements.  The resulting recommendations to support candidates who support labor issues are communicated to all of our membership.  back

A Powerful Vehicle for Communication

Our major vehicle for membership communication is the Iowa AFL-CIO News. Each member receives this paper, which is published four to six times per year. It provides information to members on issues and developments from a worker’s point of view and promotes the legislative and political activity of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO.

We also publish the Political Action Update to provide information to union leaders and activists. The Update is published weekly during the legislative session and at least once every two weeks during the rest of the year. This newsletter provides information on issues, notice of conferences and educational opportunities, as well as calls to action on issues and events.  back

The Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO is deeply involved in education for our members. We work closely with the Labor Center at the University of Iowa to provide labor education programs both on the campus and in local union halls.

The Federation sponsors a scholarship program annually.  It sponsors a graduate assistant at the Labor Center at the University of Iowa. It is open to members of affiliated local unions or their children.

The Federation conducts an oral labor history project. This project is on-going and has collected over 1,200 interviews with Iowa union members. Based on some of these interviews, Solidarity & Survival, a book by Shelton Stromquist, has been published. We have also developed a reference entitled A History of the Labor Movement in the United States, by David M. Colman, for use in public schools so that our children and grandchildren will know the rich history of the Iowa labor movement.  back

The Federation supports community services, an active and vibrant program. We cannot advance the personal and social well-being of our members without working for strong communities. Decent housing, good schools, adequate health care, sufficient recreational opportunities and meaningful social support programs are key to having a better society.

There are seven United Way Labor Liaisons who work to promote the caring and sharing that is at the heart of the labor movement and to help our continued efforts to build a better society for all. The Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO promotes continued and increased support of these activities by all of our affiliates.  back

The policies of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO are democratically determined at annual state conventions. The convention is the governing body of the Federation. Delegates from affiliates propose policies, express their opinions, and cast votes in proportion to the number of workers they represent to determine the programs and policies of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO.

Every four years delegates elect officers to lead the Federation and implement these policies. The President, Secretary-Treasurer, Executive Vice President, five Vice Presidents-at-Large and three auditors are elected statewide. Five Vice-Presidents are elected one per Congressional District. The three full-time officers and the ten vice-presidents make up the Federation’s Executive Board. Between conventions the Executive Board is the governing body of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO.

Per capita tax pays for the regular operation of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO and finances its many legislative, educational, research, public relations, legal and community activities.  back

In unity there is strength. By joining together in the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, unions provide themselves with representation and power they would not have working alone.

Constant vigilance is necessary to protect the gains won at the bargaining table from attacks by the legislature and the courts, as well as to pass legislation that will make the government responsive to the needs and concerns of workers and their families.   If you would like to affiliate with the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, or would like more information, please call (515) 262-9571 or 800-372-4817 or e-mail us.  

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