Iowans are speaking out in support of recognizing September as Labor Union Appreciation Month. More than sixty elected officials, organizations, and businesses have signed on to the effort at ThankAUnion.com.
A proclamation recognizing September as Labor Union Appreciation Month will be requested from the office of Governor Kim Reynolds, as well as from cities and counties across the state. Supporters of Labor Union Appreciation Month will also attend events and share information about the important role labor unions have had and continue to have in Iowa and across the country.
“We know that public support for labor unions is strong, and that’s because workers everywhere want some dignity and respect on the job,” said Danny Homan, President of AFSCME Council 61. “At the end of the day, that’s what we’re here fighting for every day.”
“Labor unions have been an avenue to the middle class for millions of Americans for many years,” said Senator Amanda Ragan. “That is one of the reasons I believe they are important to our country.”
“I’m very thankful for the opportunities than union membership has provided three generations of my family and families all across Iowa. There has never been a time in our country’s history that more unions and more union jobs were more needed in our workforce. Unions are why we have a middle class in this country,” said Senator Claire Celsi.
“As an educator, every school district I’ve taught in (four states, four districts) has had a strong Union,” said Representative Art Staed. “The welfare of students and teachers in their learning/working place was always the priority. Strong unions build safe, healthy, and equitable work environments.”
“Every month should be Labor Union Appreciation Month, just as every day is really Labor Day,” said Mike Owen, executive director of the nonpartisan Iowa Policy Project. “People work every day, and we all depend on that. We will only truly demonstrate our appreciation when we use public policy to make sure everyone is paid adequately, that they are paid what they are owed, they are protected on the job, that their families have health care, and that they have an opportunity for a secure retirement.”
“Labor unions are regularly the unsung heroes in our country,” said Matt Sinovic, executive director of Progress Iowa. “They fight for working families to have better pay and better lives, and every one of us benefits, because we all have higher wages, safer workplaces, and more quality of life as a result. If you like having paid sick leave, vacation days, or things as basic as child labor laws, you should thank a union. And if you want working families to have a seat at the table when it comes to determining the future of our state and country, you should support labor unions.”
List of Partner Organizations, Elected Officials, and Businesses
AFSCME Council 61
APWU Waterloo Local 451
Black Hawk Union Assembly
Central Iowa Neighbors
Citizens for a Healthy Iowa
GPS Impact
Greenwood Media Services
Hawkeye Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO
Hedberg & Boulton, P.C.
Indivisible Iowa
Interfaith Alliance of Iowa
Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans
Iowa Citizen Action Network
Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
Iowa Main Street Alliance
Iowa Policy Project
Iowa Postal Workers Union
Iowa River Labor Coalition
Iowa Safe Schools
Iowa State Education Association
Iowa Voices
I Work & Play
Josh Mandelbaum, Des Moines City Council
Midvale Pinacotheca
North Iowa Nine Labor Assembly
One Iowa
One Voice Message & Media
Pinpoint Digital
Planned Parenthood Voters of Iowa
Progress Iowa
Rep. Marti Anderson
Rep. Karin Derry
Rep. Molly Donahue
Rep. Tracy Ehlert
Rep. Chris Hall
Rep. Chuck Isenhart
Rep. Jennifer Konfrst
Rep. Bob Kressig
Rep. Monica Kurth
Rep. Vicki Lensing
Rep. Mary Mascher
Rep. Heather Matson
Rep. Amy Nielsen
Rep. Todd Prichard
Rep. Art Staed
Rep. Sharon Steckman
Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell
Rep. Mary Wolfe
Ben Rogers, Linn County Supervisor
Rush & Nicholson
Sen. Joe Bolkcom
Sen. Claire Celsi
Sen. Eric Giddens
Sen. Rob Hogg
Sen. Pam Jochum
Sen. Kevin Kinney
Sen. Janet Petersen
Sen. Amanda Ragan
Sen. Jackie Smith
Sen. Zach Wahls
Smith & McElwain
South Central Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
Rod Sullivan, Johnson County Supervisor
Tax March Iowa
Teamsters Local 238
Tri-City Building & Construction Trades Council
Stacey Walker, Linn County Supervisor
Working America, the community affiliate of the AFL-CIO
