Endorses Candidates for
Governor, Senate ...
Local 893 Readies for
Bargaining with State
WATERLOO, Iowa
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| State Sen. Tom Vilsack (right)
receives petitions demanding a moratorium on privatization by Iowa from Local 893 leader
Dan Kelley in this 1994 photo. Local 893 recently endorsed Vilsack’s gubernatorial
candidacy. |
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After carefully considering the records of the two candidates for
governor, delegates to the annual meting of UE Local 893-Iowa United Professionals
endorsed Tom Vilsack, a Democratic state senator.
Vilsack has worked to win comparable pay for comparable work, regularly
supported minimum-wage increases, worked for increased funding for state schools and two
years ago supported the Local 893-IUP call for a two-year moratorium on privatization of
state services.
His opponent, U.S. Rep. Jim Lightfoot (R.), earned a 14 percent pro-worker
rating from UE and 96 percent approval rating from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for
support for NAFTA, the TEAM Act, welfare repeal, overtime repeal and opposition to minimum
wage increases.
The result of the gubernatorial election could have a major impact on the
outcome of negotiations between Local 893 and the State of Iowa in 1999. A statewide
amalgamated local union, Local 893 represents many hundreds of state employees.
The Local 893 annual meeting unanimously adopted a plan for greater
membership involvement in next year’s negotiations that includes workplace activity
and public demonstrations.
Local Pres. Dan Kelley led a workshop for state workers that focused on
building contract support groups and negotiations process. Meanwhile, delegates from
school, city and county bargaining units represented by Local 893 met with UE Political
Action Dir. Chris Townsend for a discussion on methods of affecting local political
structures and building alliances.
District 11 Pres. Carl Rosen congratulated the statewide local on its
success in consistently achieving better contracts that other state employees unions and
pledged the support of the district and National union in next year’s bargaining with
state government.
Speaking at the first Local 893 meeting since the Iowa and Nebraska locals
became part of District 11, Rosen encouraged the Local 893-IUP members to become fully
involved in the district and take advantage of the educational programs and resources
offered by the district and National union.
The Local 893 convention also endorsed David Osterberg, Democratic
candidate for the U.S. Senate, who addressed the meeting. Osterberg, an economics
professor and former state legislator, contrasted the falling incomes of workers with the
rising profits of corporations and blasted the pro-business record of incumbent Sen.
Charles Grassley. Delegates passed the hat to raise funds for Osterberg’s underdog
campaign.
Speaking on behalf of Genl. Pres. John Hovis, Townsend stressed the
importance of voting in the November election. He also led a workshop for public sector
workers taken from the Labor Party’s "Corporate Power and the American
Dream" presentation.
