THERE IS S IN UNITY TRENGTH RATION O DE F E L F A B A O W R O I AFL-CIO AFL-CIO D e a s ow Moines I NEWS IOWAVolume 16, Issue 2 Official Publication of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO September 2016 The President's View . Elections Matter! All legitimate questions. What are their answers? State and local candi- dates make the decisions that impact our quality of life. Think about invest- ments for education, fund- ing for workplace safety programs, infrastructure IFL President Ken Sagar investments or the lack of any of these and what the We are past Labor Day, the tradi- implications are for these tion kick-off weekend for the politi- actions or inactions. cal season. As we head into the fi- Local school boards, city nal weeks of the elections, have you council or county board evaluated the candidates on the is- decisions impact our kids, sues important to working families? our schools and our daily Where do the federal candidates quality of life. Don’t for- stand on trade? What are their plans get to vote the down bal- to create jobs and stimulate our lot elections too. economy? What are they doing to Flip the ballot over and take care of seniors and protect both vote yes to keep our judges Social Security and Medicare for from becoming politicized. the coming generations of working Try not to get too lost Iowans? What do they plan to do in the national TV ads to encourage and enable working and focus on the issues families to educate our kids without that are impacting us all every day. Labor 2016 efforts, just get up off the politics your hobby for 2 months enslaving them to a lifetime of debt? Pick a candidate, volunteer for our coach and make a difference. Make and see if it makes a difference. Bridging The Gap Quilt Raises $4015 Winner of the Bridging The Gap the cause, was USW 105 member quilt, which helped raise $4015 for Dennis Johnson from the Plate Mill. Shirts for the substance of quilt were donated by USW 105 members who care about our nation’s veterans and especially the Quad-City Area homeless veterans. Bridging The GAP QCA is a not PAID for profit organization that holds several events each year. September U.S. POSTAGE U.S. PRESORT INC PRESORT 15-17 was a 3-day stand down de- NON-PROFIT ORG. NON-PROFIT signed for veterans to receive medi- cal and dental exams along with the availability of learning about food assistance, the Veterans Administra- tion’s health care services, human services, legal aid, etc. Thanks to all who helped make this a success. A special shout-out to Amber St. Clair, John Lane and Left to right: Mike Nicholas, Mike Malmstrom, Pat Stock, Brad Greve, Jerry Porter. Let’s keep up the good Jeff Hartford, Bart, Amber St. Clair and Jerry Porter. work for our veterans. Secretary-Treasurer’s Notes Iowa FoL Your Vote & Iowa CLC Inside This Is Essential Endorsements Issue .........................Page 3 .......... Pages 4-5 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 September 2016 Muscatine Council Votes To Strip WIN Candidate And Mayor Of Her Appointment Powers By Tracy Leone, Mayor Broderson attempted to use Months passed and the num- ple who would represent working Political Organizer her limited powers under a Man- ber of unfilled vacancies grew. The families in what has largely been a Last year, Diana Broderson was ager/Council form of government Mayor decided to bundle a bunch of town dominated by corporate inter- recruited by a WIN Committee to make the city more inclusive by appointments together, some reap- ests. member to run for Mayor. She was appointing people to Boards and pointments, some based on recom- The men who voted to steal the an ideal candidate, a LIUNA house- Commissions who, like her, were mendations from council, and some Mayor’s power – and the voice of hold member and for many years focused on giving working people a of her own people. Despite this at- the people who elected her - may employed by the YMCA working voice in local government. tempt at compromise, the council have succeeded for now in usurping in a family program. Diana un- But the council members, almost demonstrated once again that they democracy. The representatives of derstood the struggles of working all with corporate and business back- weren’t about to let working people Muscatine’s most powerful indus- families and easily won the support grounds, didn’t agree. They blocked have any power and voted to only tries and union-busting companies and endorsement of the Quad City her appointments one by one. They approve their own recommenda- may now be in charge at city hall, Federation of Labor. tabled them. They refused to make tions. but it won’t be for much longer. The After winning by eight points a motion and vote. They sent the Then on September 1st, 2016, people of Muscatine are watching over the incumbent mayor, and Mayor emails noting that her ap- the Muscatine City Council, over- and will not easily forget. garnering more votes than any- pointments were union members, riding the Mayor’s veto, voted 6-1 Frederick Douglas said, “Power one else on the ballot in the City, Democrats, and in one instance said to strip the Mayor of the power to concedes nothing without demand. the woman the mayor wanted to ap- make appointments to boards or It never has, it never will.” Now it is point to the public utility board – a commissions and the fire and police up to the people to demand change. IN UNITY THERE IS STRENGTH RATION O college graduate who once headed chief. This was done despite public If you or anyone you know is inter- DE F E L F A B A O W R O I AFL-CIO AFL-CIO the League of Women voters – was opposition, and in my opinion, be- ested in running for public office or D e a s ow IOWAMoines I NEWS not qualified and would be better on cause the Mayor – a WIN Candidate work to help elect WIN candidates the Library Board. – dared make appointments of peo- locally, please contact us. The Iowa AFL-CIO News is the official publication of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO 2000 Walker St., Suite A Des Moines, Iowa 50317 Volunteers Needed For Labor 2016 and is published quarterly. This election appears to be a close To Volunteer contact: Iowa City (515) 262-9571 one, it is critical that union members Iowa Federation of Labor AFL-CIO 940 S Gilbert Ct, and our families go to the polls and 2000 Walker, Suite A Iowa City, Iowa 52240 iowaaflcio.org vote this year. A large percentage of Des Moines IA 50317 union members in Iowa are regis- 515-262-9571 Marshalltown tered to vote, yet in the last few elec- [email protected]. 1149 UFCW tions too many of us failed to show Labor 2016 Offices around Iowa: 803 N 3rd Ave Officers up. Marshalltown, IA 50158 And the results show that there LABOR CAMPAIGN OFFICES 641-752-0464 & Staff were several races that were lost by a very few votes. Cedar Rapids Quad Cities Along with our affiliates and IBEW Local 405 UFCW Local 431 President CLCs, the Iowa Federation of Labor 1211 Wiley Blvd SW 2411 W. Central Park KEN D. SAGAR has developed a statewide election Cedar Rapids, IA 53404 Davenport, IA 52804 [email protected] plan to get the labor vote out. Re- Rick Moyle Tracy Leone lease staff can’t do this alone. 319-396-8461 309-738-3196 Secretary/Treasurer CHARLIE WISHMAN We need your help. [email protected] Make sure you are registered to Council Bluffs Quad Cities vote and that you are in the right TBD USW 105 State Political Director voting area. 880 Devils Glenn Road BETTY BRIM-HUNTER You can vote early starting Sep- Des Moines Bettendorf, Iowa 52806 [email protected] tember 29! There are satellite voting 2000 Walker St, Suite A Tracy Leone places all over Iowa, you just have Des Moines, IA 50317 309-738-3196 Communications Director to go to your county auditors web Mark Fallis LANCE COLES page or call them to see where those 515-262-9571 Ottumwa [email protected] sites are located. The Secretary of TBD State (Iowa) web page sos.iowa.gov Dubuque Political Organizer also has a list of where you can vote, Labor Temple Sioux City BEN MURRY forms to get and other voting infor- 1610 Garfield WILF [email protected] mation such as: Dubuque, IA 521001 3038 S. Lakeport Absentee Ballot request Sioux City, IA 51106 Political Organizer Voter Registration TRACY LEONE Go to Iowalabornews.com and [email protected] check out the list of Union endorsed candidates and current labor walks. Bookkeeper We are stronger together. That JAMIE MILLER is what union membership is all [email protected] about. If we work together dur- ing this election period to get more Iowa ARA Organizer union sisters and brothers to vote SUE DINSDALE for our endorsed candidates, we [email protected] will restore the balance of power, stop attacks on working people and build an economy that works for ev- eryone. We need volunteers to knock on (812) 923-1111 door, make phone calls, and help AFL-CIO get out the vote! September 2016 IOWA AFL-CIO NEWS Page 3 The Secretary-Treasurer's Notes .