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 19, Issue 2 Official Publication of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO October 2019 Iowans Declare September Labor Union Appreciation Month More than 65 elected officials, orga- of the reasons I believe they are im- Sinovic, executive director of Progress Iowa State Education Association nizations, and businesses support the ef- portant to our country.” Iowa. “They fight for working families Iowa Voices fort to make September Labor Union Ap- “I’m very thankful for the oppor- to have better pay and better lives, and I Work & Play preciation Month at thankaunion.com tunities than union membership has every one of us benefits, because we Josh Mandelbaum, Des Moines Des Moines, Iowa all have higher wages, saf- City Council -- Iowans are speaking er workplaces, and more Midvale Pinacotheca out in support of recog- quality of life as a result. If North Iowa Nine Labor Assembly nizing September as La- you like having paid sick One Iowa bor Union Appreciation leave, vacation days, or One Voice Message & Media Month. More than sixty things as basic as child la- Pinpoint Digital elected officials, organiza- bor laws, you should thank Planned Parenthood Voters tions, and businesses have a union. And if you want of Iowa signed on to the effort at working families to have Progress Iowa ThankAUnion.com. a seat at the table when Rep. Marti Anderson A proclamation recog- it comes to determining Rep. Karin Derry nizing September as La- the future of our state and Rep. Molly Donahue bor Union Appreciation country, you should sup- Rep. Tracy Ehlert Month will be requested port labor unions.” Rep. Chris Hall from the office of Gover- The Polk County Su- Rep. Chuck Isenhart nor Kim Reynolds, as well pervisors and the Sioux Rep. Jennifer Konfrst as from cities and coun- City and Cedar Rapids Rep. Bob Kressig ties across the state. Sup- City Councils signed off on Rep. Monica Kurth porters of Labor Union proclamations recognizing Rep. Vicki Lensing Appreciation Month will Hawkeye Area Labor Council Executive Director Rick September as Labor Union Rep. Mary Mascher also attend events and Moyle accepts the Labor Union Appreciation Month Appreciation Month. Rep. Heather Matson share information about proclamation from the City of Cedar Rapids. The plan is to keep Rep. Amy Nielsen the important role labor this going and build a Rep. Todd Prichard unions have had and continue to provided three generations of my movement to make every Septem- Rep. Art Staed have in Iowa and across the country. family and families all across Iowa. ber, Labor Appreciation Month. Rep. Sharon Steckman “We know that public support There has never been a time in our Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell for labor unions is strong, and that’s country’s history that more unions PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, Rep. Mary Wolfe because workers everywhere want and more union jobs were more ELECTED OFFICIALS Ben Rogers, Linn County some dignity and respect on the job,” needed in our workforce. Unions are AND BUSINESSES Supervisor said Danny Homan, President of AF- why we have a middle class in this AFSCME Council 61 Rush & Nicholson SCME Council 61. “At the end of the country,” said Senator Claire Celsi. APWU Waterloo Local 451 Sen. Joe Bolkcom day, that’s what we’re here fighting “As an educator, every school dis- Black Hawk Union Assembly Sen. Claire Celsi for every day.” trict I’ve taught in (four states, four Central Iowa Neighbors Sen. Eric Giddens “Labor unions have been an av- districts) has had a strong Union,” Citizens for a Healthy Iowa Sen. Rob Hogg enue to the middle class for millions said Representative Art Staed. “The GPS Impact Sen. Pam Jochum of Americans for many years,” said welfare of students and teachers in Greenwood Media Services Sen. Kevin Kinney Senator Amanda Ragan. “That is one their learning/working place was Hawkeye Area Labor Council, Sen. Janet Petersen always the priority. Strong unions AFL-CIO Sen. Amanda Ragan build safe, healthy, and equitable Hedberg & Boulton, P.C. Sen. Jackie Smith work environments.” Indivisible Iowa Sen. Zach Wahls “Every month should be Labor Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Smith & McElwain Union Appreciation Month, just as Iowa Alliance for Retired South Central Iowa Federation every day is really Labor Day,” said Americans of Labor, AFL-CIO PAID Mike Owen, executive director of Iowa Citizen Action Network Rod Sullivan, Johnson County the nonpartisan Iowa Policy Project. Supervisor Iowa Coalition Against U.S. POSTAGE U.S. PRESORT INC PRESORT “People work every day, and we all Domestic Violence Tax March Iowa NON-PROFIT ORG. NON-PROFIT depend on that. We will only truly Iowa Federation of Labor, Teamsters Local 238 demonstrate our appreciation when AFL-CIO Tri-City Building & Construction we use public policy to make sure Iowa Main Street Alliance Trades Council everyone is paid adequately, that Iowa Policy Project Stacey Walker, Linn County they are paid what they are owed, Iowa Postal Workers Union Supervisor they are protected on the job, that Iowa River Labor Coalition Working America, the their families have health care, and Iowa Safe Schools community affiliate of the AFL-CIO that they have an opportunity for a secure retirement.” “Labor unions are regularly the un- sung heroes in our country,” said Matt Making Our Endorsements IFL 2019 Election Inside This Meaningful Endorsements Issue ................................Page 3 ................................Page 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 October 2019 2020 Caucuses Are Coming By Julianne Frosolone, ahead of time, but you can register awarded based on the total counts. tend their normal caucus. Site exam- IFL Political Director on caucus night if necessary. Each Democrats express their presiden- ples include union halls, factories, The hot summer weather has caucus starts at the same time across tial candidate preference by form- or nursing homes. The deadline for faded, the first day of autumn has the state, and you’ll need to be in ing “preference groups.” Each application is November 18th and passed, and before we know it, the line no later than 7:00 pm sharp. Ev- preference group needs to have the template will be posted on the Iowa caucuses will be upon us. On eryone who is in line by that time a certain number of people in or- Iowa Democratic Party website with Monday, February 3rd, Iowans will will be allowed to enter and begin der to elect delegates. This term is more information. gather in every precinct across the the registration process. called “viability,” and it’s based on It’s crucial that union members state to discuss their presidential The caucus officially opens af- the number of eligible caucus-goers attend their caucuses, regardless preferences and conduct party busi- ter registration, and once a leader and the number of delegates as- of their party preference. A high ness. is elected, the number of eligible signed to your precinct. Non-viable turnout of union members on cau- The Iowa Democratic and Repub- caucus-goers present is announced. candidate groups, which can in- cus night will help ensure worker- lican parties will release caucus lo- This number plays a crucial role in clude “uncommitted,” must either friendly candidates get the most cations a few months before caucus determining candidate viability lat- join viable groups or come together delegates in Iowa and remind cau- night. Remember, your caucus site er in the process. Next, you will hear to form their own viable group. cus-goers and reporters that work- is unique to your address, so be sure from presidential candidate surro- Each preference group is award- ers’ issues are high priority. And, to double check before heading out gates, each vying for your support. ed delegates proportionally, based electing our members to the party the door. From this point on, the Democratic on the number of caucus-goers in central committees means that we In order to participate, you need and Republican caucus processes their group. The delegates elected can ensure union members are in- to be registered to vote at your cur- are completely different. Demo- by both the Democrats and Republi- cluded in party decision-making. rent address. It’s ideal to do this crats form presidential “preference cans on caucus night will move for- As the saying goes, “If you don’t groups” and Republicans utilize a ward in the County, District, State, have a seat at the table, you’re prob- IN UNITY THERE IS STRENGTH paper ballot voting system. Here’s a and ultimately, National Conven- ably on the menu.” RATION O DE F E L F A B A O W R brief overview of each party’s cau- tion process. If you have any questions about O I AFL-CIO AFL-CIO cus process. the caucus, would like a training for To increase caucus accessibility, D e a s ow Moines I NEWS IOWA Republicans vote for their pre- the Iowa Democratic Party will be your members, or need help with a ferred presidential candidate on holding Satellite Caucuses. These Satellite Caucus application, please The Iowa AFL-CIO News is the paper ballots. The votes are count- locations are meant to accommo- don’t hesitate to reach out. official publication of the ed and recorded, and delegates are date people who are unable to at- [email protected] Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO 2000 Walker St., Suite A Des Moines, Iowa 50317 and is published quarterly.