Former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich will keynote a Working Families Summit scheduled for May 16 in Ames.

National labor leaders also will speak, including Larry Cohen, president of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), others to be announced.

The summit is designed to put higher wages and other working family issues in the forefront of public debate in advance of the 2016 Iowa precinct caucuses.

"We can help to shape the presidential debate for 2016 to focus more on issues related to working families," said Ken Sagar, president of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO.

"I want to see broader understanding of the number of issues from raising wages, to supporting families, to protecting civil rights, so that we all understand each other's issues and can support each other."

While the event will be promoting critical issues for the presidential campaign, no presidential candidates will be speaking at the event ? though all are welcome to attend.

"This will be a great opportunity for presidential candidates to hear the concerns about concrete issues facing Iowa's working families," Sagar said.

The summit will run from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Scheman Building on the Iowa State University campus. More information about the agenda and arrangements will be provided in the coming weeks.

Sponsors so far include : the AFL-CIO along with many Iowa labor and advocacy organizations focused on concerns for working families in Iowa: the Iowa Federation of Labor; American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); Communications Workers of America (CWA); Iowa Postal Workers Union (APWU); Progress Iowa, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC); Iowa State Education Association (ISEA); Iowa Citizens Action Network (ICAN); Americans for Democratic Action (ADA), Laborers International Union of Northern America (LIUNA); Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA); Iowa Policy Project; Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa; Iowa Community Action Association; and the American Friends Service Committee.

Members of the public are welcome.

Facebook Page - Working Families Summit

http://progressiowa.org/sections/progress-report/551467d275c9a121d7000003

 

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