How You Vote Is Up To You, But Iowa AFL-CIO News ments happen: up. So,hereishowourendorse- rules or take the time to look them people belongbutnever findoutthe world we live inthesedaysIsuppose. if they do not agree, but that isthe sad thatpeopleresorttonamecalling munists, andfarfromit.Itiskindof dorses acandidate.We arenotcom- just exactlyhowourorganizationen- of people,Ithinkitisworthnoting ments. Whilethisisatiny,tinygroup, they didnotagreewithoutendorse- that we were “communists”because number ofpeoplewhocalluptosay paper cameout,therewere asmall The President's View . . . The President's View. NON-PROFIT ORG. Like anyorganization,alotof Last timeanissueofournews- I Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO U.S. POSTAGE Volume 20,Issue3 2000 Walker St., Suite A PAID

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T H . cial issues. rights, therearenoquestionsonso- no questionsaboutreproductive not questionsaboutguns,thereare up theworkeracademy.Thereare make that interviews affiliate from are gradedonlaborissues,taken win ifyoudonotplay. cannot you lottery, the to relation in high bar of a supermajority. high barofasupermajority. just asimplemajorityof them, itisa affiliates our who makeupthefederation,andnot of representative are say though,thatourendorsements them, itisuptoyou.We cansafely can choosetoreadthem,orignore We merelylayout thefacts,andyou tirement, andvotetheirpocketbooks. union, votetheirjobs,re- bor. Itistimethatpeoplevotetheir we want” forissuesunrelatedtola- candidates, notsimplypicking“who see, we have doneourresearchon is yourpersonaldecision. As youcan ...... These candidate questionnaires These candidatequestionnaires How you vote is up to you, and it How youvoteisuptoyou,andit IFL 2020Election Endorsements October 2020 Pages 4-5 Page 2 IOWA AFL-CIO NEWS October 2020 64th Annual IFL Convention a Little Different The 64th annual Iowa Federation tive Board that needed to be dealt of ALF’s and ARA to choose board Iowa Labor Center of Labor Convention was just a little with. Charlie and Pete were nomi- representation.” This change ex- Mike Owen explained the merger different this year. nated and elected by acclamation as cluded the ALF’s and ARA from the of the Iowa Policy Project and Child Because of the Covid-19 pandem- President and Secretary/Treasurer. only two delegates from any inter- and Family Policy Center That has ic, the IFL Convention was held on A constitutional changes added national rule on the IFL Executive formed “Common Good Iowa”. line via Zoom on August 26 and 27. a position to the Executive Board, Board. This passed. AFL-CIO Regional Director, Ste- The IFL staff worked from the IFL and allowed for board representa- The second proposed change was phen Cousins, gave a report. IFL office and the IAM meeting room at tion with the Association for Re- to increase the number of Vice Pres- Political Director, Julianne Froso- 2000 Walker, where the zoom meet- lone talked about the IFL plans for ing was being broadcast. Labor 2020. Charlie Wishman started the con- Candidate Theresa Greenfield vention with his report of the IFL closed out the first day. and comments. IFL Secretary/Treasurer Pete Hird One of the first orders of busi- started off day two with his report. ness is nomination of officers. With Iowa House Minority Leader, the retirement of IFL President Ken Todd Pritchard and Sagar, Charlie Wishman was ap- Minority leader Janet Petersen ad- pointed president, and Pete Hird dressed the convention. was appointed to replace Charlie Candidates Rita Hart, Cindy as Secretary/Treasurer. There were Axne and J.D. Scholton zoomed in a couple of vacancies on the Execu- to talk to the delegates and guests. AFL-CIO Secretary/Treasurer Liz IN UNITY THERE IS STRENGTH Schuler swore in the officers then

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  sented three resolutions: The first A 2000 Walker St., Suite A F There was no need for an election Clarification of Affiliate fees, was O F IO S R L-C N ALL IOWA NEWS IVolume 20, Issue 2 WAOfficial Publication of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO September 2020 was Guaranteed paid sick leave New masthead 9-20 Des Moines, Iowa 50317 and the following Sisters and Broth- the agenda of the third proposed and paid family medical leave. This and is published quarterly. ers were elected: constitutional change. The change Mike McCarthy - ARA VP - AF- was to clarify that ALF’s and Chap- would establish universal sick leave (515) 262-9571 SCME 3450 ters can have their own represen- fund to ensure all workers have ac- Rick Moyle - HALC VP - IAMAW tative/delegate at IFL conventions cess to benefits. This passed. iowaaflcio.org 831 and meetings, and what the fee is to The second resolution was titled Jeremiah Fitch - VP-At Large - be. This passed. Osha Pandemic enforceable Stan- IUPAT The afternoon of the first day was dard, which called on the Governor Rosa Wilson - VP-At Large - CWA filled with speakers. Rick Moyle to enact a pandemic standard that Officers 7110 talked about the formation of LUCC can enforce CDC guidelines to pro- Patrick Wells - VP At-Large - that was formed to replace the Unit- tect workers. This passed. & Staff IBEW 347 ed Way representation in the Water- The last resolution was to sup- Simplice Kuelo - Next Up At- loo area. port all the IFL endorsed candi- Large - UFCW 431 Jay Smith reported on several le- dates. This passed. All the Constitutional propos- President There were three constitutional gal issue facing the labor movement. als and proffered resolutions can CHARLIE WISHMAN proposals proffered and all three Jays provided documents that are [email protected] passed. available on the IFL web page. Jen be found at iowaaflcio.org/ifl- The first one called “Flexibility Sheer reported on the University of convention-2020.

Secretary/Treasurer PETER HIRD [email protected] Have You Made Plans to Vote? By Julianne Frosolone, request form: 5 pm on October 24th ● If you have not submitted Political Director IFL Political Director ● Ballots will be mailed to voters your ballot by Election Day, take it JULIANNE FROSOLONE Union sisters and brothers, starting October 5th to your County Auditor’s office or julianne@iowaaflcio,org Election Day is quickly approaching. ● Once you return your ballot, surrender it at the polls to vote in Have you made a plan to vote? mail back ASAP--the postmark person Communications Director This is one of the most important deadline is November 2nd Check the status of your absentee LANCE COLES elections of our lifetime. ballot here: https://sos. [email protected] We must elect our union iowa.gov/elections/ endorsed candidates up absenteeballotstatus/ and down the ticket. absentee/search Organizing Director If you have any BEN MURRY questions, please email VOTING EARLY [email protected] Iowa AFL-CIO Political IN PERSON Director at julianne@ ● Vote early in person Bookkeeper iowaaflcio.org. at your local County JAMIE MILLER Auditor’s office [email protected] VOTING BY MAIL ● Dates for Early (ABSENTEE BALLOT) Voting in Person: ● The Iowa Secretary October 5th-November of State mailed every 2nd registered voter an absentee ballot request VOTING ON ● If you need a request ELECTION DAY form, visit www.workers ● Election Day is firstvoteunion.org/ Tuesday, November 3rd (812) 923-1111 ● Deadline to submit ● Find your polling your absentee ballot place at iwillvote.com October 20200 IOWA AFL-CIO NEWS Page 3

The Secretary-Treasurer's Notes . . . The Voices of the Working Class Still Matter is to do so much more for workers. proposed would “decrease work- property owners/lessors, manufac- While the ceiling for priorities will ers’ compensation payments [for turers and healthcare providers. be limited by our current Gover- injured state employees]… by an School funding increased an aver- nor, a union endorsed House and estimated $1.8 million annually be- age of 1.7% since 2011, well below Senate majority will be able to pass ginning with FY2018.” what is needed to properly educate proper pro-worker legislation. It A lot of other bad bills were children and provide the resources can’t be said enough, they need. These issues the Republican trifecta along with many others in Iowa led to public can only be addressed worker contracts being Let Your Voice with candidates who stripped of decades of will stand up for work- negotiated language. ing families. Let’s also remem- Be Heard The 2020 presiden- ber that public sector tial candidate selec- IFL Secretary Treasurer unions must vote for tion showed us that Peter Hird the union for every the voices of the work- As I think back to past elections contract and every per- ing class still matter. with one month to go, I thought a son who doesn’t vote is We always say that lot about the finish line. The day af- considered a NO vote. you can’t ignore the ter election day would be a day of Recertification voting worker’s voice and celebration and a long break before is costly and is rigged presidential candidate the next round of candidates were against workers who after candidate came running again. The reality is that want a union. to union halls and blue we never stop. We never stop talk- The largest overhaul collar towns across the ing about issues that keep us safe of worker’s compen- country to hear the sto- at work, we never stop advocat- sation in Iowa’s his- ries of those who built ing for dignity in the workplace or tory has the potential November 3rd this county. Your voice the ways to help us organize oth- to affect every worker made a difference. So er workers into our union family. in Iowa. The law dras- what do we want after Elections are a lot of work and as tically changed how the election? Samuel we work towards our goal of elect- shoulder injuries are compensated, passed in the last few years. ID Gompers, the first and longest- ing pro-worker candidates in 2020, removed the burden of proof from laws, shortened timelines for re- serving president of the American let’s go over what we are fighting the employers to prove an employ- questing an absentee ballot, lim- Federation of Labor (AFL), said it for in Iowa and what our goals are ee caused an accident after failing its on the authority of the elected so well, “What does Labor want? after the election. a drug or alcohol test and reduced County Auditor and signature We want more school houses and We all have something we cham- interest that is paid on claims by verification are tactics that do not less jails; more books and less ar- pion, but let’s review what hap- insurance companies. According make it easier for folks to vote. Lo- senals; more learning and less vice; pened just a few years ago. 2017 to The Labor Center’s workers’ cal governments were banned from more constant work and less crime; in Iowa was really bad for public compensation guide, on March using Project Labor Agreements, more leisure and less greed; more and private sector workers. Getting 20, 2017, the Legislative Fiscal Bu- setting a minimum wage and cre- justice and less revenge; in fact back to where we were just four reau, a non-partisan agency of the ating paid leave standards. CO- more of the opportunities to culti- years ago is a priority, but our goal legislature, estimated that changes VID liability was relieved for most vate our better natures.” Backside of the Ballot: A Constitutional Convention – Yes or No, and What Are the Consequences? Every 10 years it is mandated that al conventions have been held in question (not a majority of voters fore we have no idea what kind of the state of Iowa put on the ballot Iowa, one in 1844, one in the year voting in the election) in order to amendments would be proposed. a question if Iowa would call for of our statehood in 1846, and one become part of the constitution. The entire question leads to more a constitutional convention. The a decade later in 1857. As a state Right now, if a constitutional questions and uncertainty in the po- question is simple – but in its sim- have not had a constitutional con- convention were to be held, any- litically polarized time that we cur- plicity it hides the seriousness and vention in 163 years. thing and everything contained in rently live in. consequences of calling for revi- Here is what we know about the our constitution would and could How you vote is your choice sions to the Iowa Constitution. process - if a convention is called, be subject to change and revision. and is always up to you. The Iowa This provision, which can be constitutional amendments are The Legislature would appoint the Federation of Labor has not taken found in Article X, Section Three then adopted at that convention, convention delegates. Not know- a position on this question; how- of the Iowa Constitution has been and they will be placed on the ing what the make-up of the Iowa ever, you should know the facts in the constitution since its incep- ballot for voters to ratify or reject General Assembly would be after about this question on the ballot tion in 1857 and was reset in 1970 to them. Once an amendment is on the election, we have no idea who and what its serious consequences have the question asked every ten the ballot, it must be approved by the make up of the electors to such would be, both known and un- years thereafter. Three constitution- a majority of voters voting on the a constitution would be, and there- known. Page 4 IOWA AFL-CIO NEWS October 2020 Iowa Federation of Labor 2020 Election Endorsements

Abby Finkenauer Rita Hart Theresa Greenfield US Congressional District 1 US Congressional District 2 US Senate GENERAL ELECTION IOWA STATE HOUSE IOWA STATE HOUSE US Senate: Theresa Greenfield HD 15: Charlie McConkey HD 59: US CD 1: Abby Finkenauer HD 16: Jen Pellant HD 60: Dave Williams US CD 2: Rita Hart HD 17: Jan Creasman HD 61: Timi Brown-Powers HD 19: Nick Miller HD 62: Ras Smith US CD 3: Cindy Axne HD 20: Ryan Morrison HD 63: Carissa Froyum US CD 4: JD Scholten HD 22: Shawna Anderson HD 64: Jodi Grover HD 25: Caleb Short HD 65: IOWA STATE SENATE HD 26: HD 66: SD 6: CJ Petersen HD 27: Cody Dilliner HD 67: Eric Gjerde SD 8: Steve Gorman HD 29: HD 68: Molly Donahue SD 10: Warren Varley HD 30: Lori Slings HD 69: Kirsten Running-Marquardt SD 12: Joey Norris HD 31: Rick Olson HD 70: SD 16: HD 32: HD 71: Sue Cahill SD 18: Janet Petersen HD 33: HD 72: Christina Blackcloud SD 20: Rhonda Martin HD 34: Bruce Hunter HD 73: Lonny Pulkrabek SD 22: Sarah Trone Gariott HD 35: Ako Abdul-Samad HD 74: David Jacoby SD 24: Cynthia Paschen HD 36: HD 75: Ruby Bodeker HD 37: Andrea Phillips HD 76: Sarah Smith SD 26: Deb Scharper HD 38: HD 77: SD 28: Matt Tapscott HD 39: HD 78: Kimberly Davis SD 30: Eric Giddens HD 40: John Forbes HD 81: SD 32: Pam Egli HD 41: HD 82: Phil Miller SD 34: HD 42: HD 83: Jeff Kurtz SD 36: Dave Degner HD 43: Jennifer Konfrst HD 84: Jeff Fager SD 38: Ivy Schuster HD 44: Kenan Judge HD 85: Christina Bohannan SD: 42 Rich Taylor HD 45: Beth Wessel-Kroeschell HD 86: SD: 44 Tom Courtney HD 46: Ross Wilburn HD 87: SD: 46 Chris Brase HD 47: Shelly Stotts HD 88: Sandy Dockendorf SD: 48 Eric Green HD 48: Jack Friend HD 89: Monica Kurth SD: 50 HD 49: Selden Spencer HD 90: HD 50: Dennis Evans HD 91: Kelcey Brackett IOWA STATE HOUSE HD 51: Jane Podgorniak HD 92: Jennifer Kakert HD 4: Bjorn Johnson HD 52: HD 93: HD 7: Deb Jensen HD 53: Sharon Steckman HD 94: Marie Gleason HD 8: Glenn Kiss HD 54: Karen Koenig HD 95: Christian Andrews HD 9: Charles Clayton HD 55: Kayla Koether HD 97: Ryan Zeskey HD 11: Sara Huddleston HD 56: Angela Reed HD 98: HD 13: HD 57: Ryan Quinn HD 99: Lindsay James HD 14: Steve Hansen HD 58: Andy McKean HD 100: Chuck Isenhart Go to: https://www.iowaaflcio.org/election-2020 for more election information October 2020 IOWA AFL-CIO NEWS Page 5 Iowa Federation of Labor 2020 Election Endorsements

Theresa Greenfield Cindy Axne J.D. Scholten US Senate US Congressional District 3 US Congressional District 4 CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL ENDORSEMENTS for LOCAL RACES North IA Nine Quad City Federation of Labor Steve Hepperly, Winnebago County Sheriff Roxanna Moritz, Scott County Auditor Hawkeye Area Labor Council Pete Bawden, Scott County Sheriff John Stuelke, Linn County Supervisor Jazmin Newton, Scott County Supervisor Brian Gardner, Linn County Sheriff Rogers Kirk Jr. , Scott County Supervisor Iowa City Federation of Laborl Channon Michael, Muscatine County Sheriff Brad Kunkel, Johnson County Sheriff Brandy Harfst, Muscatine County Auditor Rod Sullivan, Johnson County Supervisor William Tharp, Muscatine County Attorney Lisa Green-Douglas, Johnson County Supervisor Ed Askew, Muscatine County Supervisor Royceann Porter, Johnson County Supervisor Servadio Elias Michelle, Muscatine County Supervisor SW Iowa Labor Council Dubuque Federation of Labor Lisa Lima, Pottawattamie County Supervisor Dave Baker, Dubuque County Supervisor Fran Parr, Pottawattamie County Supervisor Joseph Kennedy, Dubuque County Sheriff NW Iowa Labor Council South Central Federation of Labor Marty Pottebaum, Woodbury County Supervisor Kevin Schneider, Polk County Sheriff Kevin McCormick, Woodbury County Supervisor Jamie Fitzgerald, Polk County Auditor Rocky DeWitt, Woodbury County Supervisor Nick Barton, Polk County Supervisor Chad Sheehan, Woodbury County Sheriff Betty Devine, Polk County Supervisor Black Hawk Labor Assembly David Miglin, Polk County Tony Thompson, Black Hawk County Sheriff Broadlawns Hospital Trustee Chris Schwartz, Black Hawk County Supervisor Lee County Labor Chapter Tom Little, Black Hawk County Supervisor Stacy Weber, Lee County Sheriff Linda Laylin, Black Hawk County Supervisor Gary Folluo, Lee County Supervisor Clinton Labor Congress Steve Diesch, Clinton County Sheriff Mike Brown, Clinton County Supervisor Eric Van Lancker, Clinton County Auditor Bill Jacobs, Clinton County Treasurer Des Moines Henry County Labor Alliance Kevin Glendening, Des Moines County Sheriff Terri Johnson, Des Moines County Auditor VOTE! Go to: https://www.iowaaflcio.org/election-2020 for more election information November 3rd Page 6 IOWA AFL-CIO NEWS October 2020 Eye of the Hurricane By Jay Smith & Dennis McElwain dent Trump paid next to nothing in Now, given everything that is density has stagnated to the low- It is October – we are less than taxes, and as we write this Article, Hurricane Trump, as a member est level in U.S. History. Second, one month away from the elec- the President of the United States is of the Labor Movement, you may unemployment is at the highest tion. If you feel as if you have lived in Walter Reed Military Hos- level since the Great Reces- through twenty years within the last pital in Bethesda, Maryland sion. Third, despite having ten months given everything that with a COVID-19 diagnosis. numerous “infrastructure has happened, you are not alone. But for the hurricane that has weeks,” an infrastructure bill Since January, the President has been the Trump Presidency, has not been passed. Fourth, been impeached, there is a world- any one of these items would there are two members of the wide pandemic, which the President be the lead story on the eve- Supreme Court, nominated knew about and tried to downplay, ning news for weeks on end. by the President, who were in over 200,000 Americans have died However, we do not live the majority in the Janus de- from the COVID-19 virus, the coun- in normal times. We have cision. Fifth, the President’s try was shut down, the Democrats not lived in normal times appointees to the NLRB are finished their nominating process, since President Trump won clearly anti-worker. Sixth, there are out of control fires in the the election a little less than there has been no effort to West, science has become a politi- four years ago. Throughout enact workplace standards cal issue, we wasted six months in the last four years, we have to protect workers during the fight to get the COVID-19 virus witnessed an attack on de- the COVID-19 Pandemic. under control, we have witnessed mocracy and the political Seventh, the President’s De- people taking a stand against racial norms for which we worked partment of Labor gutted injustice, the Postmaster General for over two hundred years federal overtime protections. has sought to slow down the mail to create. In four years, Presi- have missed the President’s attack Eighth, the President is seeking in an effort to aid the President’s re- dent Trump and his minions have on issues important to the Labor to invalid important provisions election campaign, Justice Ginsburg worked to destroy what took over Movement. The following is a brief of the Affordable Care Act, which passed away, we learned that Presi- two centuries to create. summary of the attack. First, Union amongst other things, protect those of us with pre-existing conditions. It is an understatement to say that the current administration and the President’s lackeys in the United States Senate do not care for work- ing people and our issues. On November 3, 2020 (and for that matter in the weeks leading up to it), the Labor Movement will be in the eye of the hurricane. November 3, 2020 represents the opportunity for us, as a move- ment and as citizens in our great democracy, to determine how we are going to come out of the hurri- cane that is the Trump Presidency. We have the opportunity to send the President home. We have the opportunity to send Senator Ernst home. We have the opportunity to elect Labor Friendly candidates up and down the ticket. We have the opportunity to send members of the anti-worker regime home and the possibility to enact with new leadership in place a worker- friendly agenda. But, in order to come out of the hurricane that is the Trump Presi- dency in better shape than we oth- erwise would, we have work to do. Significantly, there are three things that we must do. First, we must make a plan to vote and make sure we vote – whether that be by absen- tee ballot, absentee ballot in person UNION PRINTING at an early voting site, or in-person on election day. Second, we must Unions around the country often have products printed for their members. Whether they LOOK FOR THE UNION “BUG” ON make sure that our fellow mem- are sold by the union or given away at meetings and conventions, they all should have YOUR PRINTED MATERIALS bers do the same. Finally, to the ex- one thing in common: the union “bug.” The Union Label and Service Trades Department, AFL-CIO, frequently receives requests for a list of union printers and providers of tent that there are any undecideds promotional products. within our ranks, we must do the YOU CAN USE THE FOLLOWING RESOURCES TO FIND UNION PRINTERS: work and educate them on the is- sues and the reason their votes are • www.cwaprintshops.com — website that allows you to submit a request for a bid important to the Labor Movement. from union vendors for printing, embroidery, silk screening, engraving and other If we do these three things, we promotional products. The site is run by the Printing, Publishing and Media Workers have the opportunity to come out Sector-CWA (PPMWS). of the hurricane that is the Trump • www.Alliedlabel.org — a database of GCC and CWA union printers that allows you to Presidency in a position to rebuild search by city, state, or even label number to find a printer near you. the Labor Movement and our de- • Other unions, including the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), United Auto Workers (UAW), and International Association of Machinists and mocracy. Similar to any hurricane, Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), can print with a union label. our time in the eye of it is fleeting, we have one opportunity, which 2 LABEL LETTER JUL-AUG 2020 we cannot waste. Now is the time to get to work – go vote. October 2020 IOWA AFL-CIO NEWS Page 7 IBEW Members Leading the COVID-19 Response

CHICAGO & IOWA ies, the Labor Harvest LOCALS KEEP still runs its primary COMMUNITIES programs: hot breakfasts FED served on Saturdays, ex- From delivering gro- cept for once a month ceries to retirees to help- when there’s a walk- ing feed their larger in food giveaway. The communities, efforts by difference now is that members in Chicago breakfast is packaged and Dubuque, Iowa, are to-go, as are food boxes snapshots of the kind- that people pick up at nesses that IBEW broth- the door. ers and sisters have been Retired Local 704 Busi- extending around the ness Manager Dan Ham- country since the early mel, an original Labor days of the coronavirus Harvest board member, pandemic. is on hand every week- In Chicago, a Local end. “Organizations 134 crew that included in Dubuque have been Business Manager Donald Finn ritory with care packages, mainly Townsend and his wife, Judee, have very gracious, going out of their filled carts and pallets at Costco in non-perishables such as peanut packed hundreds of boxes with ev- way to help,” he said. “Businesses late March with food for IBEW re- butter, tuna, crackers and granola erything from canned goods and have been making extra donations. tirees and widows. bars. They set boxes on doorsteps, pasta to meats, cheese and eggs. And we’ve got lots of volunteers — “We know that the older gen- rang bells, and hustled away as Households on a list provided lots of union people, retirees, their eration can be more susceptible to grateful recipients shouted, “Thank by a community service agency get sons and daughters.” severe complications from this dis- you!” from a distance. a box of non-perishables and an- Unions are family, after all. ease, so we wanted to make it as It felt a little like “reverse trick- other with refrigerated items that “That’s really how this all start- easy and safe as possible for them or-treat,” Walters said, calling it Townsend and other volunteers ed,” Townsend said, referring to to get the supplies they need,” said “an amazing experience for every- leave at the doors. Worried about the Labor Harvest’s origins in the Elbert Walters, who coordinated one.” older people managing the heavy 1980s. “The unions started collect- the project as director of Powering In Iowa, Local 704 and the packages alone, Townsend on oc- ing food for unemployed members, Chicago, the local’s labor-manage- Dubuque Area Labor Harvest, a casion has carried them inside, and then as the economy started ment partnership. food pantry that unions have run keeping a safe distance. “If I’m de- getting better and people started Apprentices and business agents since the 1980s, are helping meet livering, it just depends,” he said. going back to work, they said, headed to more than 100 homes their community’s growing needs. “I struggle with that.” ‘Why not start giving back to the throughout Local 134’s large ter- Business Manager Tom In addition to the home deliver- community?’” Iowa Labor History Society 2020 Membership Campaign Securing Labor’s History In Historic Times Iowa Labor History Society school students to engage with labor history through the Jim Wengert Award for best labor his- Iowa Labor tory projects at National History Day, this year held virtually History Society  Begun work on two new web- sites based on interviews with Membership Iowa workers found in the Iowa Labor History Oral Project Application  Started planning our first vir- tual conference, to be held on No- ____ Become an individual member By John McKerley, President, vember 7, 2020  $10/year Student, Retiree, Unemployed Iowa Labor History Society  Joined an international group  $20/year Individual We are living through historic of labor history organizations to  times and historic challenges for Io- share Iowa’s labor history and to $50/year Sustaining Membership wa’s workers and labor movement. learn from work being done all  $100/year Solidarity Membership For months, Iowa workers in across North America communities and workplaces across As always, none of this work ____ Affiliate my union or community organization the state have struggled to stay safe could be done without your sup-  Small organizations with under 200 members - $100/year port! amid a worldwide pandemic, con-  Medium organizations with over 200 members - $200/year fronted the consequences of our lin- With this article you will find a  Large organizations with over 1,000 members - $500/year gering racial inequalities, and, most membership form and instructions recently, worked to rebuild in the for how you can help get us the re- ____ Contribute a donation of ______aftermath of a storm of devastating sources we need to continue mak- proportions. All of this comes on ing sure that the struggles and joys NAME:______top of the continued struggles to de- of Iowa’s workers—in the past and fend workers’ rights against the le- present—are celebrated and made ADDRESS:______gal changes of the last several years. accessible to new generations. CITY:______ST:_____ ZIP:______Even as we attend to these very We need resources, but we also real and pressing issues, ILHS has need you! We invite you to get in- PHONE:______EMAIL:______continued to advance our mission volved. Join a committee or run for of preserving and promoting Iowa’s a position on our board of directors. Please Return to: Susie Wengert, Secretary/Treasurer labor and working-class history. You can find out more about ILHS Iowa Labor History Society Over the last several months, we and all of these opportunities at our 4024 42nd Street and our partners have: website, iowalaborhistory.org. Des Moines, IA 50310  Encouraged middle and high In solidarity. Page 8 IOWA AFL-CIO NEWS October 2020 The COVID Crisis Has Only Raised the Challenges of Recovery By Mike Owen 2019 — before the COVID crisis hit. March 2020, and we are still pick- targeted where the need is great- In a month we will have a better DOR’s latest Leading Indicators re- ing through the wreckage and tal- est — at those held back by a long idea of who will be calling the shots port cites signs that “strongly sug- lying the damage,” Gordon wrote history of systemic racism, at those in Des Moines and Washington on gest the Iowa economy will contin- in the September report. struggling to make ends meet even a host of issues affecting economic ue to weaken into second quarter “The depth and suddenness of before the current crisis, and at security, opportunity, those hit hardest by the and equity for working COVID recession.” families. Further analysis by The COVID crisis has Common Good Iowa’s only raised the challeng- Peter Fisher confirms the es for recovery. point about “back to nor- ● By mid-October, mal” policy responses. Iowa likely will have Fisher’s recent report passed the 100,000 mark “Where do jobs come in positive COVID cas- from?” illustrates that es, which grew on aver- businesses and jobs sur- age by over 800 a day vive longer in firms born through the last half of in the state, rather than September. those migrating to the ● Initial unemploy- state. ment claims rose in Iowa “If state policy could by nearly a half million affect one of the com- (469,000) through the ponents of job growth, first 35 weeks of the cur- it would seem apparent rent recession. That’s that policy should be di- more than three times the rected at increasing the number for the compara- formation of new firms,” ble 35 weeks of the Great Fisher wrote. Recession. Using policy to stimu- ● While the unem- late independent entre- ployment rate is down to preneurial efforts would 5.9 percent, that “prog- represent a shift in Iowa ress” is created by Iowans economic development dropping out of the labor market, FY 2021, and weakened employ- the economic collapse, alongside policy in Iowa, which focuses on and not going back to work. ment growth over the next three to the unprecedented public health cutting taxes to chase development ● The state revenue picture re- six months. crisis that precipitated and accom- by out-of-state firms. mained uncertain through the first Colin Gordon examined Iowa’s panied that collapse, exposed glar- To meet the challenges ahead, three months of the fiscal year, economic landscape in Common ing gaps and weaknesses in our we must learn from experience with the Revenue Estimating Con- Good Iowa’s pre-Labor Day “State public policies, and underscored and solid research for effective re- ference due to meet Oct. 16, and of Working Iowa” report, a series systematic inequalities in economic sponses. These recent reports from another forecast set for December that started under the former Iowa and policy outcomes.” Common Good Iowa offer a good to determine what is available for Policy Project (IPP). The State of Gordon noted a need for “more perspective. the next budget. Working Iowa is one of several than just a rush back to normal, While a new — and necessary — ● While not promoted by the initiatives that will continue with featuring tax breaks and regula- COVID-relief program remains in Reynolds administration, Iowa Common Good Iowa, formed by tory relief for business and the thin doubt in Washington, Iowans can Department of Revenue analysts the merger of IPP and the Child promise of trickle-down benefits act at the state level to strengthen see weakness in the state econo- and Family Policy Center. for the rest of us. Our political at- worker rights, opportunity for all, my, which posted a net job loss in “The economy fell off a cliff in tention and resources should be family prosperity, and safety-net supports. The low-hanging fruit is obvious — a stronger minimum wage, expanded Earned Income Tax Credit and better access to Your Vote Matters! Child Care Assistance. The heavier lift will come with tax reform that increases both fair- Your Vote Is Your Voice! ness and revenue, so we can re- store our lagging investments in education at all levels and in envi- ronmental quality. We need stron- ger health and safety protection in the workplace, resolving both longstanding issues and new ones raised by the COVID crisis. As noted in The State of Work- ing Iowa, we must target resources “where the need is greatest,” a sen- sible principle for public policy and resources if we are to assure equity, opportunity and prosperity for all Iowans. Mike Owen is deputy director of VOTE Common Good Iowa, a nonpartisan pub- lic policy analysis and advocacy organi- zation formed by the merger of the Iowa November 3rd Policy Project and the Child and Family Policy Center. For more information, see www.commongoodiowa.org.