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Presidents Report |
| Power Plant Project I’ve had numerous phone calls, as well as personal conversations, with members who are disappointed in the recent decision to cancel construction plans on the Sutherland Generating Station in Marshalltown. For obvious reasons this project has been supported throughout the community by both labor and business leaders alike. One of my concerns about this regrettable announcement is some people’s criticism .of Senator Steve Sodders and Representative Mark Smith. Their political adversaries who are contending that these gentlemen didn’t do enough to advance this project arc either uninformed or simply playing politics. I’ve had ongoing conversations with both Mr. Smith and Mr. Sodders and can assure that not only have they done their best to promote the new power plant, they continue to work to bring the issue back to the table by keeping the door open and talking with Alliant Energy officials. Choice of Doctor Another issue paramount to labor in the State is the employees’ right to choose their own Doctor relative to work-related injuries.-.--Opponents of this bill argue that Unions are exaggerating the problem and the number a claims is not significant. I can’t help but notice, however that everyone I talk to who says we don’t need to have a choice of what doctor we see, just happens to have that choice themselves. CERT In the last issue I asked for interested members to consider being a Liaison and Coordinator for Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT). Thank you to Roxanne Lada and Todd Wilkening (both Unit 1 members) for stepping forward to fill those positions. I saw a quote worth passing on in another labor newsletter . “All that harms labor is treason to America. No line can be drawn between these two if any man tells you he loves America, yet he hates labor, he is a liar.” Abraham Lincoln |
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In Solidarity, Dennis Stewart President |