Economy, Commerce, and Labor

WE SUPPORT:

EC-1 Renewed WPA jobs program

EC-2 guaranteeing right to organize and join unions.

EC-3 eliminating “right-to-work”.

EC-4 living wage for all Americans.

EC-5 raising FLSA exempt workers minimum salary to $345 weekly.

EC-6 legislation limiting mandatory overtime.

EC-7 strengthening pension protection, and severe penalties for benefit guarantee violations.

EC-8 requiring promptly crediting contributions to employee saving plans.

EC-9 federal legislation to:

1. protect worker pension, retirement and 401-k funds in corporate mergers and takeovers.
2. prohibit corporate misuse of monies reserved for pension or retirement funds including use as loan collateral.  These monies are employee’s property, not company’s.
3. establish 401-K default enrollment with minimum participation and employee opt-out.

EC-10 strengthening OHSA coverage, inspection and enforcement.

EC-11 improved workplace ergonomic requirements to reduce repetitive motion injuries.

EC-12 requiring US manufacture of Military Critical Parts and Hardware.

EC-13 direct federal funding of government Arsenals’ “underutilized plant capacity”.

EC-14 ensuring viability of defense installations critical to Iowa and National Security.

EC-15 workers’ right to six months notice of intention to relocate.

EC-16 increased public works infrastructure funding.

EC-17 equitable subsidy distribution among transportation modes including public transportation, metropolitan mass transit, bicycling; and high-speed passenger rail service through the Quad Cities.

EC-18 a comprehensive alternative energy R&D plan that employs and revitalizes America’s working middle class.

EC-19 increased predatory lending protections.

EC-20 nonprofit, cooperative credit unions as an essential financial services alternative and oppose efforts to increase their taxes.

EC-21 increased worker retraining programs funding.

EC-22 employee choice of medical provider and treatment for occupational illnesses or injuries.

EC-23 enactment Iowa “Fair Share” to assure exclusive bargaining agents recoup representation costs from entire bargaining unit.

EC-24 Iowa honor binding arbitration commitments.

EC-25 strengthening Iowa Public Employees’ Bargaining Law.

EC-26 passage of “Public Project Quality Protection Act” (Prevailing Wage).

EC-27 harsher penalties for employers violating work-force development plans, and recouping economic assistance monies and tax relief.

EC-28 ending large chain business subsidies; and aggressively encouraging development of local small businesses.

EC-29 preference for Iowa businesses and labor on contracts using Iowa Economic Development funds.

EC-30 Rock Island Arsenal as critical to Iowa and advocate in BRAC.

EC-31 barring insurance company using personal credit information in offering insurance and setting premiums.

EC-32 adding following to Iowa State Business Corporation Act.

Section 1. Duty to Safeguard the Public Interest.

It shall be the responsibility of the directors to manage the corporation in a manner that does not cause damage to the environment, violate human rights, adversely affect the public health or safety, damage the welfare of the communities in which the corporation operates, or violate the dignity of the corporation’s employees.

EC-33 use of Project Labor Agreements on public works construction projects.

EC-34 addition “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to workplace discrimination standards.

EC-35 significant re-budgeting from military into: education, health, human services, infrastructure and military benefits.

EC-36 fair trade putting workers, family farmers, consumers and environment equal with corporate profits; trade negotiation transparency; and Congressional authority in trade deals.

EC-37 state licensing skilled construction trades.

EC-38 national high-speed broadband policy by 2012; strong protections for workers and consumers; assuring affordable, high-speed Internet for all.

EC-39 revising Mining Act of 1870 to provide fair compensation for public lands mineral rights use including restoration costs.

EC-40  free bus service in the Quad Cities.

EC-41  100% accountability and transparency for all corporate funds received and disbursed.

EC-42  break-up of companies considered "too big to fail."

EC-43 Banking Reform

WE OPPOSE:

EC-44 repeal of Davis-Bacon.

EC-45 expanding FLSA exemptions.

EC-46 use of retirement funds and contributions for other than retirement benefits.

EC-47 privatizing public services unless: service quality for public is enhanced and egalitarian; taxpayer costs decreased; and protection for displaced employees.

EC-48 diverting Iowa road use revenue into general fund allowing infrastructure deterioration.

EC-49 economic development assistance for companies not paying living wage with affordable health insurance for employees and dependents.