Voter Registration Forms Have Been Changed to Include the Libertarian Party 3

IN UNITY THERE IS STRENGTH

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D e a s ow Moines I NEWS IOWAVolume 18, Issue 1 Official Publication of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO June 2018 The Secretary-Treasurer's Notes . . . We've Reached The End Of Session By Charlie Wishman, for 400 weeks and reduces com- IFL Secretary-Treasurer pensation for those injuries as well. Do you wish that your union Nothing in these workers compen- would “just leave politics alone?” sation changes do anything to lower That’s a nice thought. The unfor- health care costs, except for making tunate truth is that politics won’t it harder for workers to obtain ben- leave your union, your rights at efits. work, and your life alone. A general assembly lasts two If you care about your state: years. It is not exaggeration to say This Governor and this legisla- that this has been some of the tough- ture has continued to mismanage est two years that organized labor, the state budget. For the second and workers in general have faced. year in a row, there was a need for It is an election year. We don’t and mid-year budget cuts it was so mis- won’t tell you who to vote for. What managed. At the same time, they we will do, is show you who votes are passing billion-dollar tax cuts what way, what the bills that affect skewed toward the wealthy and workers do, and recommend you corporations. No surprise, its be- stand with people who either have cause they want to reward their do- stood with you, or pledge to stand nors going into an election year. It with you. doesn’t take a math genius to know that this is a recipe for disaster. If you are a public worker: am confident that public employees They have also tried everything These disasters include under- Almost all your bargaining rights reading this are no fools. they can to make this state a low funding mental health, underfund- have been stripped away, for abso- They repeatedly say there will be bid, low wage, low skill state. Un- ing education, underfunding our lutely no reason other than because no changes to your retirement sys- less you turn this around, Iowa will corrections system to the point peo- the people in charge of this state do tems “this year,” because this is an continue to race to the bottom for ple are getting stabbed. not value your work, believe you election year. They do want to de- wages. You may, or may not see it are a second-rate citizen, and want stroy IPERS like they gutted your today in your paycheck, but you We Fought – and We you to be paid less and have few if collective bargaining, but this time, will. Fought together any benefits. Even if your represen- they gave you a window, a chance, Corporate and insurance lobby- tative was a Republican who voted an opportunity, to make a difference If you work in manufacturing, ists (some of these corporate vam- “no” on the final bill, they passed up before they attack. Just like collective food processing, or steel: pires call themselves Democrats) every opportunity to stop the bill, to bargaining they won’t campaign on This legislature, swept into office along with Senate Republicans at- vote no on amendments, and never it, but I’d bet my bottom dollar your on “Making America Great Again,” tempted to criminalize the work- spoke against it one single time. Not pension will come under attack next voted to allow the state to stop users compensation system, but we one time. They are not your friends, year if things do not change. ing US manufactured steel and oth- stopped them, together. These they are just trying to fool you. I er American made products on road same people tried to eliminate un- If you work in the building trades: and bridge projects. They would employment in all circumstances You weren’t spared either. This rather use cheap Chinese products except for in a layoff situation, tak- legislature chipped away at Davis – with taxpayer money than yours. ing no other circumstances into Bacon, which are your wages. They Also, see what they did to your account. These same people intro- also ended project labor agreements workers’ compensation below. duced a million different schemes on public projects, again going after to make Iowa a low-wage night- PAID your wages, benefits, and job oppor- If you work for a living and could mare, and we fought back more U.S. POSTAGE U.S. PRESORT INC PRESORT tunities. They even outlawed ask- be injured (that’s anyone): than I can list, together.

NON-PROFIT ORG. NON-PROFIT ing a contractor on a project simple Workers Compensation has tak- We won some, but we lost most questions such as, “have you been en a beating the past two years. The of the time. It’s just the cold, hard, convicted of fraud?” or “Do you changes this legislature approved facts. It wasn’t because we didn’t have a qualified workforce for this automatically presumes that any try hard enough, organize hard project?” or “What do you pay your trace of drug or alcohol is the cause enough, and it wasn’t because we employees?” They have opened of an accident, and the burden of didn’t have solidarity, it was be- the opportunity for app-based con- proof to say it wasn’t is now on cause those were the cards the vot- struction employers to not have to the worker. Perhaps the main and ers dealt to you in 2016. pay workers compensation or un- most harmful changes to workers For decades men and women employment insurance (though we compensation law is how shoulder have stood up to power and fought did work to ensure workers must be injuries are treated. What was once for each other. It is your turn. The licensed at the minimum). considered a body of the whole in- power, and the choice about what dustrial injury now is only covered you do, is in your hands.

Voter Info For June 5th 2018 Elections . . . Inside This Iowa Primary Elections IFL Endorsements Issue ...... Pages 4 & 5 ...... Page 8 Iowa AFL-CIO Iowa News AFL-CIO Federation of Labor, Iowa A St., Suite 2000 Walker 50317 Des Moines, Iowa Page 2 IOWA AFL-CIO NEWS June 2018 Wh at is The Iowa Labor HistoryIL OralHO Project (ILHOP) P? Iowa Federation was started of Labor 40 yearsleaders ago who by recog- The President's View . . . nized the need to preserve the stories of ILH workers whose lives shaped Iowa’s rich OP T labor history. A new round of ILHOP interviewsoda under way to preserve important storiesy from

From the 1970s more recent decades. I So, What Are Youover 1,100 interviewsGoing To Do?is now LHO -1990s, ILHOP recorded Areas of focus for new interviews include: P A labors, and struggles of Iowa union mem- dvis Imagine a sailor standing on the does she send out a clever, factful textbers. quire ILHOP a isfew widely key regarded strokes as oneor areof the you pression efforts, unemployment bills ors recounting the lives, Origins and growth of Iowa’s ILHOP is a joint project of the Iowa& S t deck of her sail boat thinking about or Facebook post or does she do themost willing comprehensive to work labor tooral take history advantage col- that unionsmake a mockery of the system Federation of Labor aff the amazing breeze at her back. So, hard work to raise the sails and takelections of inthe the circumstances world and one of that the only look favor- are justMajor a eventsfew of and the laws that have University of Iowa Labor Center, the large public sector State Historical Society-AFL of Iowa, and the advantage of the circumstances? -scaleable? oral history projects initiated and beenstruggles upended in the current Iowa -CIO, the funded by labor unions themselves. University of Iowa Division of Continuing There you have the current po- The Iowa Federation of Labor, legislative(organizing, sessions. The tax bills that Education strikes, lock- T litical climate. Many are predicting AFL-CIO has worked hard to put take money from insufficient rev- . he ILHOP audio recordings, interview tran- outs, plant H Iow a good election this year for candiscripts,- andtogether a good program, provide enues are going to put our budget in isto a L closings) Lead Interviewer ry O ab dates who support working families.thousands good information and we are wait- jeopardycurring since oc- for possibly decades. John McKerley, ILHOP Oral Historian, ra or of docu- l Pr Crystal balls aside, we seem to have ing, albeit not too patiently, for those the So,1970s what are you going to do, University of Iowa Labor Center ojec ments, pho-  Industrial, E-mail: john t a lot of energy, many candidates and committed activists to step up and pound a few keys or pound a few (IL tos, and economic, Phone: 301 [email protected] Pre H motivated people who want to see do the hard work necessary to be doors? If you want to tell your kids serv OP artifacts are and political -789 ing ) Project Director -4164 Iow and change, want to have an economyavailable to successful. changesand grandkids that you were on the a’s L Sha Jennifer Sherer, Director, University of Iowa ab ring that works for all of us andthe not public just We have seen the consequencesthe 1970sfrontlines affectingto the presentto Iowa take workers back from Iowa from or H Labor Center isto some of us. via the of a bad election first hand.  WorkExperiences- the far of right, come and help us raise ry wa LaborIo- E-mail: jennifer The question is: Will you be sat- ers rights attacked, rights for injurednew immigrantsthe sails and chart a new course for Phone: 319 Collection women, minorities, and [email protected] - isfied with Facebooks postsat the Statethat re- workers set back decades, voterInterviewees sup- Iowa. of in Iowa workplaces 335-4144

Historical occupations Project Advisory Committee all ages, backgrounds, and Society of stories. Mary Bennett, Special Collections IFL President Ken Sagar are being sought to tell their Iowa in Coordinator, State Historical Society of Iowa City. Fundraising is also under way to support the Iowa Don Skalsky organizes on behalf of the United Packinghouse Workers in IN UNITY THERE IS STRENGTH creation of Matthew Glasson, Labor Educator, Cedar Rapids in the 1950s ATION ER OF resources D digital versions of ILHOP L E A Collection, State Historical Society of Iowa- F B Cover photo: University of Iowa Labor Center A O

W R

O I AFL-CIO Iowa City).

Iowa labor historyin order freely to make available key aspects on of AFL-CIO Mason City Packinghouse Workers strike, 1948

(Iowa Labor Jan Laue, President, Iowa Alliance for Collection, State Historical Society of Iowa-Iowa City).

D e a s ow IOWAMoines I NEWS Retired Americans

Ken Sagar, President, Iowa Federation of

(Iowa Labor -line. The Iowa AFL-CIO News is the Labor, AFL - official publication of the Shel Stromquist,CIO Professor Emeritus, University of Iowa Department of History Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO Janet Weaver, Iowa Women’s Archives, Iowa Labor History Oral Project 2000 Walker St., Suite A University of Iowa Libraries Des Moines, Iowa 50317 100 BioVenturesc/o Center, Labor CenterW130 Charlie Wishman, Secretary The University of Iowa and is published quarterly. Federation of Labor, AFL Iowa City, IA 52242 - Treasurer, Iowa [email protected] (515) 262-9571 - 335 CIO -4144 iowaaflcio.org August 2014

Officers & Staff Working Iowa Neighbors In 2009 the Iowa AFL-CIO estab- has helped with local President lished the WIN program. The pro- contract fights, orga- KEN D. SAGAR gram was designed to assist area la- nizing campaigns and WIN [email protected] bor federations elect labor-friendly has helped shape local candidates to local offices. Since policies in areas. Please WORKING IOWA NEIGHBORS Secretary/Treasurer it’s inception, the WIN program consider attending one CHARLIE WISHMAN has been very successful. With of the WIN meetings [email protected] the assistance of WIN committees, listed below. The program is con- For more information contact: area labor bodies have elected nu- tinuing to grow, and meetings are Ben Murry, Organizing Director Political Director merous candidates. WIN has ex- open to all labor unions and allied at [email protected] or 515-205- BETTY BRIM-HUNTER panded its capacity and focus and groups. 2595. [email protected] WIN Committee Meeting Day Time Venue Address Communications Director LANCE COLES Waterloo 4th Wednesday 6pm UAW Local 838 2615 Washington St, Waterloo [email protected] Sioux City 2nd Tuesday 5pm UFCW Local 222 3038 S Lakeport St, Sioux City Fort Dodge 1st Tuesday 5pm UFCW Local 6 1200 3rd St. NW, Fort Dodge Organizing Director BEN MURRY Cedar Rapids 4th Monday 5:30pm IBEW Local 405 1211 Wiley Blvd SW, Cedar Rapids [email protected] Council Bluffs 3rd Monday 6pm IAFF Local 15 1827 S. 8th St., Council Bluffs

Bookkeeper Algona 3rd Thursday 5pm Algona Senior Center 1306 N Main St, Algona JAMIE MILLER Creston 4th Thursday 5pm The Windrow Restaurant 102 W Taylor St, Creston [email protected] Mason City 4th Thursday 6pm Labor Temple 510 S. Pennsylvania, Mason City Marshalltown 4th Wednesday 5:30pm UAW Local 893 411 Iowa Ave W, Marshalltown Dubuque 3rd Thursday 6pm Labor Temple 1610 Garfield Ave. Dubuque Clinton 1st Monday 6pm Clinton Labor Congress 226 22nd Place, Clinton Davenport 2nd Tuesday 6pm UFCW Local 431 2411 W Central Park Ave, Davenport Muscatine 4th Monday 6pm ISU Extension Office 1514 Isett Ave., Muscatine

Lee County 4th Tuesday 6pm UFCW Local 617 (Odd Months) 728 1/2 Avenue G, Ft. Madison (Odd Months) Labor Temple (Even Months) 301 Blondeau Street, Keokuk (Even Months) (812) 923-1111 Burlington 2nd Monday 6pm IAMAW Local 1010 16452 Hwy 34, West Burlington June 2018 IOWA AFL-CIO NEWS Page 3 Wh at is The Iowa Labor HistoryIL OralHO Project (ILHOP) P? Iowa Federation was started of Labor 40 yearsleaders ago who by recog- nized the need to preserve the stories of ILH workers whose lives shaped Iowa’s rich OP T labor history. A new round of ILHOP interviewsoda Iowa Labor History Oral Project under way to preserve important storiesy from

From the 1970s more recent decades. I over 1,100 interviews is now LHO -1990s, ILHOP recorded Areas of focus for new interviews include: P A labors, and struggles of Iowa union mem- dvis bers. ILHOP is widely regarded as one of the  ors recounting the lives, Origins and growth of Iowa’s ILHOP is a joint project of theWins Iowa& S t National Awards most comprehensive labor oral history col- unions Federation of Labor aff lections in the world and one of the only  Major events and UniversityBy John of W. Iowa McKerley, Labor Center, the ment, “Over decades, Bennett has workers, unions, families, commu- large struggles public sector State Historical Society-AFL of Iowa, and the -scale oral history projects initiated and UniversityOral Historian, of Iowa Division -ofCIO, Continuing the facilitated accessions of union-do- nities, businesses, and politics for funded by labor unions themselves. (organizing, EducationIowa Labor History Oral Project, nated materials to create a over a century. strikes, lock- T University. of Iowa Labor Center he now extensive archive of The NEH grant comes on the ILHOP audio recordings, interview tran- outs, plant H Iow scripts, and The Iowa Labor History Oral isto a L labor union records, news- heels of a 2017 grant from the Na- closings) Lead Interviewer ry O ab thousands curring since oc- John McKerley,Project (ILHOP), ILHOP Oral anHistorian, oral history col- ra or letters, newspapers, and tional Historical Publications and of docu- l Pr the 1970s Universitylaboration of Iowa Laborled by Center the Iowa Federa- ojec other printed material to Records Commission to digitize ments, pho-  Industrial, E-mail: john t tion of Labor, has won two national (IL complement the oral history approximately 1,100 taped inter- tos, and economic, Phone: 301 [email protected] Pre H awards for its ongoing work pre- serv OP interviews.” Previous Ses- views and transcripts and to make artifacts are and political -789 ing ) Project Director -4164 Iow and available to changes serving and promoting the history a’s L Sha sions Award winners include them accessible through the Univer- Jennifer Sherer, Director, University of Iowa ab ring the public the 1970s affectingto the present Iowa workers from of the Iowa labor movement. The or H the Walter P. Reuther Library sity of Iowa Libraries’ Iowa Digital Labor Center isto via the  Experiences of awards, one from the American ry in Detroit, Michigan, the State Library. These interviews can be wa LaborIo- E-mail: jennifer new immigrants Phone: 319Library Association (ALA) and Historical Society of Wisconsin found online at the following ad- Collection women, minorities, and [email protected] - at the State Interviewees of in Iowa workplaces the335 -other4144 from the National En- in Madison, and the National As- dress: http://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/

Historical occupations Project Advisorydowment Committee for the Humanities sociation of Letter Carriers Infor- cdm/search/collection/ilhop. all ages, backgrounds, and Society of stories. Mary Bennett, Special(NEH), Collections confirm and contrib- mation Center in Washington, DC. ILHOP was founded in the 1970s. are being sought to tell their Iowa in Coordinator, Stateute Historical to ILHOP’s Society ofplace in the Shortly after the announcement The project was the brainchild of Iowa City. Fundraising is also under way to support the Iowa Don Skalsky organizes on behalf of forefront of labor-focused of the Sessions award, ILHOP staff IFL president James Wengert, who the United Packinghouse Workers in creation of Matthew Glasson, Labor Educator, Cedar Rapids in the 1950s historical projects across received word that the project had hoped to use it as a means by which Cover photo: Collection, State Historical Society of Iowa- resources digital versions of ILHOP University of Iowa Labor Center Iowa City). Iowa labor historyin order freely to make available key aspects on of the nation and around the also won an almost $200,000 grant to document workers’ lives and to Mason City Packinghouse Workers strike, 1948 Jan Laue, President, Iowa Alliance for Collection, State Historical Society of Iowa-Iowa City). (Iowa Labor world. from the NEH to transcribe and in- share their stories with other Io- Retired Americans On March 27, 2018, the dex over 350 interviews. The new wans. Since the 1970s, ILHOP has Ken Sagar, President, Iowa Federation of

(Iowa Labor -line. AFL-CIO’s Department indexes will join over 700 previ- become a joint project of the IFL, Labor, AFL - for Professional Em- ously indexed interviews to form an SHSI, UI Labor Center, UI Libraries, Shel Stromquist,CIO Professor Emeritus, University of Iowa Departmentployees of announcedHistory that online ILHOP Digital Index. Once and the Iowa Labor History Society. Janet Weaver, Iowa Women’sILHOP Archives, had received Iowa Labor History Oral Project complete, the digital index will Labor Center Director Jennifer Sher- University of Iowa Librariesthe John Sessions Me- make it possible for a wide range er administers the project, which is 100 BioVenturesc/o Center, Labor CenterW130 Charlie Wishman, Secretarymorial Award from of users, from schoolchildren to managed on a day-to-day basis by The University of Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL the ALA. The award rank-and-file union members and oral historian John McKerley, who Iowa City, IA 52242 acknowledges- the professional researchers, to access can be reached at john-mckerley@ Treasurer, Iowa [email protected] - 335 CIOwork of ILHOP -4144 detailed information about Iowa uiowa.edu. and its partners in August 2014 preserving Iowa’s labor and working-class history and making it accessible to a broad public audience. Society of In particular, the Sessions award Iowa in Iowa highlights the long-term commit- City (SHSI), ment of Mary Bennett, collection the project’s original home. As the coordinator at the State Historical ALA noted in its award announce-

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D e a s ow Moines I Page 4 IOWA AFL-CIO NEWS June 2018 Voter Information For June 5th Iowa Primary Elections CHANGES IN VOTER LAWS

Historical Landscape Prior to the 2017 Legislative session Iowa had: 1. A permissive early voting system 2. Absentee ballots that were mailed out 40 days prior to the election 3. NO Voter ID required

Current Landscape Legislation was passed that now: 1. Requires Iowans to have identification in order to vote 2. Voter registration forms have been changed to include the libertarian Party 3. The ability to reguestan absentee ballot (ABR) has now been reduced by 11 days 4. The ability to vote by mail has been reduced by 29 days. 5. Straight party voting is eliminated 6. City and School Elections are combined beginning in 2019 7. Voter registration cancellation for answering “no” on Jury duty form 8. Cannot remove ballots from satellite/auditors office

EARLY VOTING – ABSENT BALLOT

Absentee Ballots VOTER ID LAW

New Items for 2018 Absentee Ballot (ABR) Form: Voter ID  Requirement for Iowa Drivers License, Non-Operator 10 Number or PIN number  Only for voters that DO NOT have an Iowa Driver’s License or Non-Operator ID  Contact Information that will not be put into the voter database  Voter ID Cards (free) will be mailed to voters who DO NOT have an Iowa Driver’s  Added Libertarian to political parties License or Non-Operator ID  If there are deficiencies on the form the Election Office can contact the voter“by the best  Voter ID Cards must be signed by the voter means possible” which includes phone and via mail to ask security questions  Confidential PIN number is needed to request absentee ballot (located on the Voter ID Card) Absentee Timelines: During calendar year 2018, voters will be asked to show their 10 before voting at the polls.  Absentee Ballot Requests cannot be accepted more than 120 days before election Anyone who does not have the necessary ID will be asked to sign an oath verifying their  29 days before the election is the first day ballots can be mailed or voted identity, and will be allowed to cast a regular ballot. Beginning January 1, 2019, Iowa voters will be required to show a driver’s license, non- Voter ID and Absentee Ballots driver’s ID, passport, military 10, veterans ID, or Voter ID Card at the polls before they vote. Voters requesting Absentee Ballots will be required to include their driver’s license/ Voters without the necessary 10 will be offered a provisional ballot and can provide ID up non-driver’s 10 numbers on their request form. Voters receiving the Voter 10 Card will be until the time of the county canvass of votes (Monday after election day for Primary and required to include their card’s four-digit PIN number on the absentee ballot request form. General Elections).

Ensuring Absentee Ballot Request is filled out properly Proof of ID  All items marked with an asterisk (*) MUST be completed (please see highlighted areas If you do not have an Iowa driver’s license you may use a photo ID that is current, valid, below) and contains an expiration date.  Prior to 2018, the most overlooked item on the form was the Signature Line (Requester The following are acceptable ID’S: Affidavit)  Iowa non-driver’s license or non-driver ID card  Out-of-state driver’s license or out of state non-driver 10 card  U.S. passport  U.S. military ID  ID card issued by employer  Student ID issued by Iowa high school or college

Proof of Residence If your photo ID does not contain your current address, you may use another document to prove where you live if it contains your name and current address. The following are acceptable proofs of residence:  Residence lease  Utility bill (including a cell phone bill)  Bank statement  Paycheck  Government check or other government document  Property Tax Statement (current within 45 days of final payment date)

Attester If you cannot prove who you are and where you live with the documents listed above, a registered voter from your precinct may attest for you. Both you and the attester will be required to sign an oath swearing the statements being made are true. Falsely attesting or being attested for is registration fraud. It is a class “D” felony and is punishable by a fine up to $7,500 and up to 5 years in prison. June 2018 IOWA AFL-CIO NEWS Page 5 Voter Information For June 5th Iowa Primary Elections VOTER REGISTRATION

Voter Registration The new law does not affect Iowa’s voter registration process. There are still multiple ways to register to vote, including at the polls on Election Day, and online. Voters registering on Election Day still need to bring a picture ID and proof of residency in the precinct, like a utility bill. This has not been changed from previous elections. Voter registration forms have been changed to include the Libertarian Party.

VOTER ID LAW

Voter ID  Only for voters that DO NOT have an Iowa Driver’s License or Non-Operator ID  Voter ID Cards (free) will be mailed to voters who DO NOT have an Iowa Driver’s License or Non-Operator ID  Voter ID Cards must be signed by the voter  Confidential PIN number is needed to request absentee ballot (located on the Voter ID Card) During calendar year 2018, voters will be asked to show their 10 before voting at the polls. Anyone who does not have the necessary ID will be asked to sign an oath verifying their identity, and will be allowed to cast a regular ballot. Beginning January 1, 2019, Iowa voters will be required to show a driver’s license, non- driver’s ID, passport, military 10, veterans ID, or Voter ID Card at the polls before they vote. Voters without the necessary 10 will be offered a provisional ballot and can provide ID up until the time of the county canvass of votes (Monday after election day for Primary and General Elections).

Proof of ID If you do not have an Iowa driver’s license you may use a photo ID that is current, valid, and contains an expiration date. The following are acceptable ID’S:  Iowa non-driver’s license or non-driver ID card  Out-of-state driver’s license or out of state non-driver 10 card  U.S. passport  U.S. military ID  ID card issued by employer  Student ID issued by Iowa high school or college

Attester If you cannot prove who you are and where you live with the documents listed above, If you have questions about all the voting changes and the process, please contact the Iowa a registered voter from your precinct may attest for you. Both you and the attester will be Secretary of State’s office at their web page: sos.iowa.gov or call 888-767-8683. required to sign an oath swearing the statements being made are true. Falsely attesting or You can also call the Iowa Federation of Labor AFL-CIO officer at 515-262-9571 or at being attested for is registration fraud. It is a class “D” felony and is punishable by a fine up [email protected]. to $7,500 and up to 5 years in prison. Remember to vote June 5th. Page 6 IOWA AFL-CIO NEWS June 2018 Get To Know Your AFL Field Coordinators

When the Central Labor Coun- She got involved with politics 36 years, and was steward, secre- Served as IBEW State Conference cils became Area Labor Federations, with the “Run Warren Run” cam- tary, vice-president and treasurer President. they added a full-time position to paign, where she then went on to for CWA Local 7108. She is very active with the Demo- each ALF called Field Coordinators. work on the Bernie Sanders cam- He is a graduate of the University cratic party serving on several com- These coordinators have been paign. She lives in Davenport, of Iowa where he studied political mittees at local through national very busy, and are doing great Iowa. science. levels. Was fourth district Vice Pres- work, helping the ALF’s and chap- [email protected] He retired from the phone com- ident for the Iowa Federation of La- ters organize, get locals to affiliate 309-738-1446 pany after 36 years, in 2015. bor. Has been active the Iowa State and doing community projects. Jerry is married to Debbie and Energy Task Force, Iowa Consumer Locals should make good use of HAWKEYE AREA they have a daughter and son, and Advocate Advisory Board, and Sto- these coordinators, and here is a lit- LABOR COUNCIL two grandchildren. ry County Conservation Board. tle information about each of them Jerry Hageman was born in Wa- He is active with the Democratic [email protected] and how to contact them. terloo, Iowa. His father worked at party, clean water, his church and 515-291-0093 on the board of a local nursing https://ssl.gstatic.com/ui/v1/ GREAT RIVER AREA home. icons/mail/images/cleardot.gif LABOR FEDERATION [email protected] Julia McMeekan attended school 319-234-7404 WESTERN IOWA at Western Illinois University where LABOR FEDERATION she got a B.A. degree in English. SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA Scott Punteney was born in Oma- AREA FEDERATION ha, Nebraska and he now lives in OF LABOR Sandy Opstvedt lives in Story City with her husband Brian . They have three adult children and three grandchildren. She has a Bachelor degree in Busi-

Rath Packing for 36 years where he was a member of UFCW. He was drafted in the service and worked electronics while in the Navy. He worked for the phone company for

Council Bluffs, Iowa with his wife. They have three daughters with one still at home in high school. He worked or Griffin Pipe Prod- ucts in Council bluffs for 26 years until it closed in 2014.He was a ness Admin, and Associate degrees member, shop steward, vice presi- in Business Management and as a dent and president of USW 3141. legal assistant. Went to work for Bimbo Baker- Sandy has been a reporter for the ies, for two years, in Bellevue as a Story City Herald. She was an intern member of BCTGM 433. Then went for Justice Louis Lavorato in the to work Packaging Corporation Iowa Supreme Court and worked as of American in Omaha and was a a Legal Assistant for a law firm. She member of IBT 543 M. was assistant Business Manager for [email protected] IBEW Local 55 from 1989 to 2010. 402-657-1007 June 2018 IOWA AFL-CIO NEWS Page 7 REALITY: Backroom Tax Overhaul Blows Opportunity To Simplify Iowa Taxes, Slashing Revenue And Fairness To Working Families

By Mike Owen, standard deduction, which would hurt the Iowa economy than to cess. Iowans were owed better — Executive Director, help moderate and middle-income help it, if history is a guide. not only given no respect to be part Iowa Policy Project working families and simplify tax- As IPP’s Peter Fisher noted in an of the process or to observe it, they So much for all the promises. es for many. Instead, the change is IowaPolicyPoints.org blog May 3, were denied the information need- Backroom dealing that produced put off for four years, and is unlike- two days before the vote: ed to properly evaluate it and make an overhaul of Iowa’s tax system ly to happen. “For the next four tax years the comments to legislators represent- assured that the complications and  Middle-class Iowans will bulk of the tax savings go to the most ing them. In fact, the official fiscal fairness problems with Iowa taxes benefit little under the plan. The well off. In 2021, almost half of the analysis for the bill did not emerge will remain, along with the current final plan provides the bigger tax cuts will go to the richest 2.5 per- until the morning of passage. system’s failure to produce ade- breaks at higher incomes than even cent of Iowa taxpayers, those making The analysis Peter Fisher and IPP quate revenues for services Iowans the initial plans, which also benefit- $250,000 or more. Their taxes are re- provided was possible, in part, to the demand. ed the wealthy. duced by 18 percent, over twice the cut support of Iowa workers who have Rammed through both houses  Special breaks favor Iowans for those in the middle. For those mak- contributed individually or through of the Legislature on the final day with business income. These pri- ing over a million dollars, the tax cut their unions to the work of the Iowa of the session, the plan guaran- marily higher-income tax filers will will average $24,636. Policy Project. When we reach out tees continued increases in college get a special “pass-through” break “Meanwhile, those in the middle to you for support, we do so with tuition. It assures PK-12 public for business income on their per- will see income tax cuts of $100 to appreciation for all you have done schools will not be able to keep up sonal income tax. $300 over the next four years, much of for us since our beginning in 2001, with costs. Services from correc-  The final plan is far more which will be taken back in increased and with a commitment to be there tions to water quality to wage-and- costly than the Governor’s plan or sales taxes of $35 to $60.” for you when these issues arise. hour enforcement to child care as- an earlier House plan. Finally, a note on the transpar- You can contact Mike Owen at sistance to health care for the most  The plan is more likely to ency (or lack of same) in this pro- [email protected]. vulnerable Iowans will be even less adequate. One simple fact that no legislator can legitimately deny: The law requires a balanced budget, and revenues already were not keeping up (as evidenced by mid-year budget-cut- ting) before House and Senate leaders and the Governor agreed behind closed doors to whack revenues by over $400 million a year by 2021. The final tax bill stands in contrast to the political babble of simplifying taxes, of helping middle- class families, or — one of the silliest messages — making Iowa “com- petitive” when we were already in the middle of the pack and below by any responsible measure of taxes. Look at the facts, as we do at the Iowa Policy Project and Iowa Fiscal Partnership to help Io- wans sort reality about complex issues from spin-filled talking points, especially those we can count on hearing for many months to come. When you look at the facts, you see:  The plan fails to actually “reform” Iowa taxes, on many counts. It failed to address costly business tax credits, to eliminate federal deduct- ibility or to better recog- nize the costs of raising a family. Lawmakers jet- tisoned from the Gover- nor’s proposal raising the Page 8 IOWA AFL-CIO NEWS June 2018 Iowa Federation Of Labor Voted On Endorsements For 2018 Elections The Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO (IFL) held its Committee regardless of party, who are committed to advancing policies that are on Political Education (C.O.P.E) Convention, April 14, in Des Moines, in the best interests of all working people.” Iowa last weekend. This is the formal step in the process to evaluate Additional endorsements may be made as candidate questionnaires candidates for the first round of endorsements for the 2018 election are completed and returned. IFL Secretary-Treasurer Charlie Wishman cycle. noted, “Some candidates do not return questionnaires, which effective- “The Iowa Federation of Labor endorsement process is very demo- ly eliminates them from endorsement opportunities with our organi- cratic. Local labor councils evaluate and recommend endorsements to zation. Our program requires candidates to tell us where they stand on the state organization, where they must get two-thirds support to get issues important to working Iowans before we will support them.” an endorsement,” said Ken Sagar, President of the IFL. “We consider Some candidates were not endorsed at this time, but will be voted all candidates who return our questionnaire and answer the questions on by the Iowa Federation of Labor Executive Board, after the primary appropriately. The Iowa Federation of Labor is looking for candidates, election.

US Congress Endorsed Candidate Iowa Statewide Office Endorsed Candidate

CD 1 Abby Finkenauer Governor Nate Boulton CD 2 Dave Loebsack Secretary of State No Endorsement @ this time CD 3 No Endorsement @ this time Auditor Rob Sand CD 4 No Endorsement @ this time Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald Secretary of Agriculture Tim Gannon Attorney General Tom Miller

SD Endorsed Candidate HD Endorsed Candidate HD Endorsed Candidate

1 David Johnson 1 Karen Larson 51 Tim Knutson 3 David Dawson 2 Ryan Odor 52 Todd Prichard 5 John J. O’Brien 3 No Endorsement @ this time 53 Sharon S. Steckman 7 Jackie Smith 4 No Endorsement @ this time 54 No Endorsement @ this time 9 No Endorsement @ this time 5 No Endorsement @ this time 55 Kayla Koether 11 No Endorsement @ this time 6 Rita DeJong 56 Lori Egan 13 Vicky Brenner 7 Debra Jensen 57 Leo Gansen 15 Chaz Allen 8 Connie Price 58 No Endorsement @ this time 17 Tony Bisignano 9 Megan Srinivas 59 Bob Kressig 19 Amber Gustafson 10 Jake Ronald Thompson 60 Dave Williams 21 No Endorsement @ this time 11 No Endorsement @ this time 61 Timi Brown-Powers 23 Herman Quirmbach 12 Peter Leo 62 No Endorsement @ this time 25 Tracy Freese 13 No Endorsement @ this time 63 Eric Stromberg 27 Amanda Ragan 14 Timothy Kacena 64 Bruce Bearinger 29 Tod R. Bowman 15 Charlie McConkey 65 Liz Bennett 31 Bill Dotzler 16 Steve Gorman 66 Art Staed 33 Robert M. Hogg 17 Jan Creasman 67 Eric Gjerde 35 Todd Taylor 18 No Endorsement @ this time 68 No Endorsement @ this time 37 No Endorsement @ this time 19 No Endorsement @ this time 69 Kirsten Running-Marquardt 39 Kevin Kinney 20 Warren Varley 70 Tracy Ehlert 41 Mary S. Stewart 21 Denise O’Brien 71 Mark Smith 43 Joe Bolkcom 22 Ray Stevens 72 No Endorsement @ this time 45 Jim Lykam 23 Chuck Larson 73 No Endorsement @ this time 47 Marie Gleason 24 James Uhlenkamp 74 Dave Jacoby 49 Rita R. Hart 25 Ryan Marquardt 75 No Endorsement @ this time 26 Scott Ourth 76 Ann Egley 27 Richard Foster 77 Amy Nielsen 28 No Endorsement @ this time 78 Kimberly K. Davis 29 Wes Breckenridge 79 Samantha Keith YOUR VOTE 30 Kent A. Balduchi 80 Susan McDanel 31 Rick Olson 81 Mary Gaskill IS YOUR 32 Ruth Ann Gaines 82 Phil Miller 33 No Endorsement @ this time 83 No Endorsement @ this time VOICE. 34 Bruce L. Hunter 84 Jason Moats 35 No Endorsement @ this time 85 Vicki S. Lensing 36 No Endorsement @ this time 86 Mary Mascher 37 Andrew Rasmussen 87 Dennis M. Cohoon BE HEARD. 38 Heather Matson 88 No Endorsement @ this time 39 Karin Derry 89 Monica Kurth 40 John Forbes 90 Cindy Winckler 41 Jo Oldson 91 Laura J. Liegois 42 Kristin Sunde 92 Jean Simpson 43 Jennisfer Konfrst 93 Phyllis Thede 44 No Endorsement @ this time 94 Joan Marttila 45 No Endorsement @ this time 95 Christian Andrews VOTE 46 No Endorsement @ this time 96 Reenie Montgomery 47 David Weaver 97 Tim McClimon 48 Tim Winter 98 Mary Lynn Wolfe JUNE 5 49 Brenda Brink 99 No Endorsement @ this time 50 Dennis Evans 100 Charles Isenhart