CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL NEWS I OWA

Transcription

1 CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL NEWS I OWA November 2011 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: BLACK HAWK UNION COUNCIL - Waterloo Labor Council Endorsements At this month s meeting the Black Hawk Union Council e n d o r s e d t w o candidates in the upcoming election. One of these was Buck Clark, who is the Mayor of Waterloo; the other is Gene Walker, candidate for Mayor of the City of Evansdale. These fine candidates were recommended for endorsement by t h e l o c a l W I N C o m m i t t e e. T h e U n i o n C o u n c i l also went on record in supporting Hawkeye L a b o r C o u n c i l s recommendation for endorsement in the Senate District 18 Special Election. Jobs Rally O n W e d n e s d a y October 12 th outside of Senator Grassley s office in Waterloo, union members from IAM, IBEW, AFSCME, UFCW and ATU s h o w e d t h e i r disappointment in the Senator s decision to do nothing about unemployed workers in our country. With a bad economy and with many Americans out of work for over a y e a r, S e n a t o r Grassley decided to stick with other Republicans and make sure there was no d e b a t i n g t h e President s Jobs Bill. Cal Eckhoff, President of the Union Council, had this to say: I think the bill will help, maybe not overnight, but it will put people to work. Lee Bedore, a UAW CAP Committee member, said, It is political posturing by Republicans to try to d e f e a t P r e s i d e n t Obama in next year s election. Working men and women are tired of this government only taking care of the richest 1%, and are demanding something be done to help our middle class. (More Black Hawk Union Council News Continued on Next Page) Waterloo (Continued) 2 Des Moines 3 Des Moines (Continued) 4 Council Bluffs 5 Walker Not Welcome 6 America Wants to Work Contacts & Meetings Calendar Black Hawk Union Council sponsors "America Needs Jobs Now" rally outside of Senator Charles Grassley s office in Waterloo,. Pictured, left to right, are Lee Bedore, Rick Gorman, Janet Wehr and Cal Eckhoff. 7 8

2 Continued-BLACK HAWK LABOR COUNCIL Union Members Donate to Country View In the picture above Roger Dettmer, a Machinist Member at Universal Industries, adds his donation to a collection for the residents of Country View. Country View is a public, non-profit, long term care facility owned and operated by Black Hawk County, located in a beautiful country setting north of Waterloo. Country View has an admission policy which is open to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, handicap, creed, religion or political affiliation. Country View provides three distinct levels of care: A Nursing Facility (NF) with 24-hour nursing A Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) An Intermediate Care Facility for the Mentally Retarded (ICF/MR) Salvation Army Holiday Bell Ringing The first week in December is coming rapidly, and for many people, that means ringing the bells for The Salvation Army. Every year local Unions have adopted Kettles all over the city, and this year will be no exception. It has been the best one day total for the Salvation Army for many years because Union members are happy to help and their attitude shines thru to the others passing by the Kettles. SUPPORT CANDIDATES WHO SUPPORT IOWA S WORKING FAMILIES In closing please remember to get out and vote in the upcoming elections on November 8 th but also remember it is time to pitch in to help our endorsed candidates before Election Day! There is still time. Black Hawk Labor Council endorsed candidates are: Waterloo Mayor BUCK CLARK Evansdale Mayor GENE WALKER Some residents at Country View are on a very limited budget, so things like gloves or stocking caps can be a luxury. Therefore, these items will be very much appreciated. The Machinist local has always been there to help people in our community. VOTE NOVEMBER 8 Page 2

3 SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA FEDERATION OF LABOR - Des Moines A few weeks ago, I went to jail. This was a new experience for me, as I have never had the distinct opportunity before. Not to say that I have not deserved to go, but as luck would have it, was never caught and convicted. The reason I was incarcerated was for a good cause, Muscular Dystrophy Association fundraiser. My goal was to raise $2400 for MDA. I am pleased to report that I was able to raise $1, for MDA. As President of South Central Iowa Federation of Labor and a board member of our local United Way, I participate in many community services activities throughout the year. I will be working a great program this weekend, called Reach out to Drop Outs. Our goal is to knock on as many doors of high school drop outs, and try and encourage them to go back to school. Being a relatively new program, our success rate has been around 10% in recent years. That is ten more percent that will have an opportunity of earning at least 200,000 additional dollars in their lifetime, compared with the ones who do not graduate or get their GED. We have an active community services committee at South Central. We host coat and blanket drives for the homeless. We put together 750 holiday baskets eve r y December for workers who have lost their jobs, the elderly, and the sick. Many would not have a holiday dinner if it weren t for our basket program. This year we are also doing care packages for 50 sailors in Bahrain. We are hoping to bring a warm smile to someone who can t be home for the holidays. When I attended my first Union Stewards class in the 1970 s we were encouraged to wear our union apparel when we v o l u n t e e r e d i n o u r communities. When we participate in the community, showing our colors, we put a positive face on the labor movement. The right wingers love to label us as those horrible union thugs or greedy big labor. We help to c h a n g e t h i s n e g a t i v e perception when we show that we are caring folks who are trying to help others in the achievement of reaching the American Dream. With the annual United Way campaign kicking off this September, it should remind us all about how important it is to give, advocate, and volunteer. In Solidarity, Mark Cooper (More South Central Federation of Labor News Continued on Next Page) Page 3

4 Continued-SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA FEDERATION OF LABOR Jobs Rally in Des Moines On Thursday, October 13th, the South Central Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, with MoveOn.org held a Jobs Not Cuts Rally. The groups rallied to tell Washington they want a jobs bill now. They sent the message that they will not stand for cuts to programs that protect workers, keep our air clean, and lift up Iowa s middle class at the expense of the corporate greed that controls our government s policies and refused to pay their fair share of taxes. The groups focused on Bank of America as a symbol of the corporate excess that is killing the middle class. In 2009, this bank paid no taxes, took bailout money, and then gave their top officers bonuses that stagger the minds of most Americans. JOBS NOT CUTS RALLY held outside of Bank of America in downtown Des Moines Page 4

5 SOUTHWEST IOWA LABOR COUNCIL-Council Bluffs Southwest Iowa Labor Council held a Jobs Rally on Thursday, October 27th at the corner of 28th and Broadway in Council Bluffs. There were about 15 people attending including members from NALC, USW, Ironworkers and retirees from the Alliance of Retired Americans. They were there to support passing President Obama s jobs bill. Scott Punteney, President of USW Local 3141 and Trustee of the Southwest Iowa Labor Council, said This is to raise awareness that America needs jobs, America want to work. We need good jobs in this country. Letter Carriers (NALC) participate in October 27 Jobs Rally Those attending the Jobs Rally expressed their disappointment in Governor Terry Branstad for his cuts that impact teachers and at the Workforce Development. Pottawattamie County Democrats first ever Friend of Labor award presented to President of the Southwestern Iowa Labor Council William L. Biede at the Annual Labor Day Picnic. Pictured is Natalie (daughter), W illiam and Barbara (wife). Page 5

6 Scott Walker and His Union Busting Ways NOT WELCOME IN IOWA! On October 26th, Wisconsin Governor and anti-worker crusader Scott Walker was in West Des Moines to raise money for the right-wing think tank "The Heritage Foundation." Over 150 people rallied outside the Sheraton Hotel to protest Governor Scott Walker s anti-worker agenda. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has been one of the worst anti-worker politicians we ve seen in decades. He s done everything in his power to destroy labor unions in his state, has stripped thousands of public employees of their most basic rights to negotiate with their employer, and has cut vital services, all while giving tax breaks to the wealthy contributors. Page 6

7 AMERICA WANTS TO WORK Invest in Infrastructure Day of Action: November 17, 2011 JOBS. That s the crisis in America. Our economy will not recover until people get work. Congress must act now to create millions of good jobs, prevent layoffs and preserve unemployment insurance for the jobless and together we must hold every elected official accountable. America wants to work and there is plenty of work to be done especially when it comes to America s roads and bridges. In Iowa, 5,371 bridges are deficient and more than 2.3 million vehicles cross those bridges every day. Meanwhile, 6.1 percent of Iowans are jobless. With so many Iowans out of work, so many bridges and other pieces of critical infrastructure in need of work and so much to do to keep America competitive in the 21st century the solution is simple: Pass legislation that lets Iowans get to work on critical infrastructure projects. That s why, on November 17, working families will hold events across the country calling on lawmakers to pass jobs legislation and invest in infrastructure projects that will keep communities safe and create good jobs. Contact Your Local Central Labor Council or Building Trades Council for Information on November 17 Actions THIS BRIDGE NEEDS WO RK...AND SO DO WE! Page 7

8 Black Hawk Union Council President Cal Eckhoff st Wednesday, 7:00 pm Labor Temple 1695 Burton Ave, Waterloo Central Labor Councils Contact & Meeting Information Quad City Fed of Labor President Jerry Messer rd Monday, 6:00 pm Labor Hall 311-1/2 21st St., Rock Isl, IL Clinton Labor Congress President Dave Keefer Extension 232 1st Monday, 7:30 pm Democratic Headquarters nd Place, Clinton Hawkeye Labor Council President Shelley Parbs th Tuesday, 5:30 pm IBEW Local Wiley Blvd SW, CR North Central Fed of Labor President Dale Struecker nd Thursday, 7:00 pm Credit Union -basement 13 S. 3rd St, Ft Dodge South Central Iowa Fed President Mark Cooper nd Wednesday, 6:00 pm Machinists Hall 2000 Walker St, Des Moines Des Moines/Henry County President Sherri Riney st Saturday, 10:00 am Machinists Hall Hwy. 34, West Burlington Iowa City Fed of Labor President Patrick Hughes rd Thursday, 6:00 pm Estdale Plaza, Suite S. First Ave., Iowa City North Iowa Nine Labor President Mike Herman th Thursday, 6:00 pm Labor Temple 510 S. Pennsylvania, MC Southern IA Labor Council President Steve Siegel rd Monday, 5:00 pm 1305 E Mary Ottumwa Dubuque Fed. of Labor President Bruce Clark st Wednesday, 7:00 pm Labor Temple 1610 Garfield, Dubuque Lee County Labor Council President Buddy Howard st Thursday, 7:00 pm Keokuk Labor Temple 301 Blondeau, Keokuk NW Iowa Labor Council President John Hamm rd Thursday, 7:00 pm UFCW Local S. Lakeport, Sioux City SW Iowa Labor Council President Bill Biede rd Monday, 7:00 pm Firefighters Local S. 8th St, Council Bluffs November Central Labor Council Events SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY ELECTION DAY Invest in Infrastructure DAY OF ACTION HAPPY THANKSGIVING Page 8