DUBUQUE AREA LABOR-MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

DUBUQUE AREA LABOR-MANAGEMENT COUNCIL. The Dubuque Area Labor-Management Council was established at the end of an economic recession during which thousands of local jobs were cut and strikes were common. From 1979 until 1982, Dubuque County lost 7,500 jobs--many in the manufacturing area. Unemployment in the county reached 23% in 1982, the highest in Iowa. One of the many examples of loss occurred at the DUBUQUE PACKING COMPANY. In 1981 the company laid off one-third of its employees. Although the remaining workers accepted a 15.8% pay cut to keep the plant open, one year later the plant was closed. Reopened one year later as FDL FOODS INC., the plant had a much smaller workforce and hourly wage. (1)

The reaction of organized labor was to strike. In 1983 strikes occurred at the JOHN DEERE DUBUQUE WORKS, FLEXSTEEL INDUSTRIES, INC., FDL Foods Inc., Northwestern Bell, THERMOLYNE CORPORATION, Greyhound Bus Lines, ADAMS COMPANY (Encyclopedia Dubuque), KLAUER MANUFACTURING COMPANY and Mike Finnin Ford. The longest strike occurred at the John Deere Dubuque Works from August 1986 until February 1987--a total of 163 days. From 1980 until 1989, this major employer in Dubuque downsized from 8,000 workers to around 4,000. (2)

By 1986 the Dubuque economy had begun a slow recovery, but bad feelings between labor and management discouraged new businesses from moving to the city. Hoping to improve the situation, three representatives of the City of Dubuque approached influential leaders in both labor and management. With the help of a federal mediator, a labor-management council was established.

Founded in July 1988, the council used as a model labor-management organizations in the Quad Cities and Des Moines. The charter members of the council were Dan Hammel, IBEW #704; Mel MAAS, UFCW #150A; Patrick L. DILLON, UAW #94; Francis GIUNTA, CWA #7110; Rob Apel, DUBUQUE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE; Sam Haas, INTERSTATE POWER COMPANY; and Mike Stohlmeyer, John Deere Dubuque Works. (3) In order to get the organization up and running the State Labor-Management Cooperation Council awarded DALMC a $10,000 grant. (4) The Council experienced quick membership growth with thirty members within its first year of existence.

In Apri1 1990, with membership standing at thirty-six, the Council chose Charles ISENHART as its first executive director and announced several projects. (5) These included cooperative programs with the Dubuque TRI-COLLEGES, a newsletter to inform the community about developing labor-management cooperation, a resource library to help member organizations improve the workplace, and a speakers' bureau to present programs to the community on labor-management topics. The same month a one-day conference entitled "Charting the Future: A Labor-Management Approach" was scheduled at the Julien Inn.

In 1990 the council joined the GREATER DUBUQUE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION in bringing Bodine Electric, a Chicago-area business, to the Peosta Industrial Park. (6)

In November 1990, the Council received a $51,000 grant from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. The Dubuque organization was one of sixteen in the United States and the only one in Iowa to receive such an investment. Council representatives announced that the money would be used to initiate the newsletter, speakers' bureau and resource center as well as increase membership. The DALMC stated at the time its intention to expand into Jo Daviess County, Illinois, and Grant County, Wisconsin. (7)

In December 1990, the Council announced the creation of a Construction Contractor and Building Trades Committee. The committee's goal was to identify and address concerns of Dubuque's eleven building trade unions and the approximately seventy contractors and suppliers with labor contracts. (8)

The first Labor-Management Resource Center was opened on September 23, 1991 in the Fischer Building in Downtown Dubuque. (9)

The Council has provided seminars and other resources to labor groups and businesses in the Dubuque area. These seminars have included steward/supervisor training, Affordable Care Act, grievance handling, employee motivation and retention, OSHSA training on workplace safety, and workplace wellness. An annual awards banquet has paid tribute to those who have demonstrated excellence in labor-management relations, cooperation, and safety. Individuals may be nominated for the Great Job Honor Roll and the Labor-Management Honor Roll. The Alliance for Construction Excellence presents awards for workplace safety. The Bob Bennett Good Faith Award is annually presented to one person associated with management for an important accomplishment or lifetime achievement. (10)

Area high school and college students may participate in the DALMC's mock collective bargaining event in which they negotiate a contract. The Council also sponsors "Summerfest" on the second Friday in August. Donations fund the Education-to-Employment Grant Program which provides financial incentives to college students who plan to work in the tri-state region. Casual after work networking events for members of the Council were begun in the fall of 2013. On alternative months, the Council sponsored manufacturing tours. (11)

Funding the Council's operating costs has come through the annual DALMC golf outing held in June. New in 2013 was a capital campaign in which members were asked to pledge their contribution to the organization. (12)

DALMC members have annually participated in the annual Labor Day Parade celebrating the role of working men and women in America.

Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

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Source:

1. Brandt, Pamela. "Dubuque Area Labor-Management Council: 25 Years of Building Working Relationships," Julien's Journal, August 2013, p. 25

2. Ibid.

3. "DALMC|About Us-History" Online: http://www.dalmc.com/about-us/history.asp

4. Ibid.

5. Ibid.

6. Brandt, p. 27

7. "DALMC|About Us-History" Online: http://www.dalmc.com/about-us/history.asp

8. Smith, Rick, "Panel's Goal: Improved Communication," Telegraph Herald, December 28, 1990, p. 3

9. "DALMC..."

10. Brandt, p. 27

11. Ibid., p. 28

12. Ibid.