Iowa State Building and Construction Trades Council President Bill Gerhard joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed Republican-led efforts to pass anti-union legislation in Iowa and its impact on organizing.
Gerhard also serves as Business Development Coordinator of the Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust (LECET), Chairman of the Iowa Laborers Health and Welfare Fund and Vice President of the Iowa Federation of Labor AFL-CIO.
One piece of anti-union legislation he cited was the outlawing of Project Labor Agreements within the state, which significantly affected union pay.
Gerhard also talked about the need to grow apprenticeship programs to meet the increased demand for work driven by the solar industry, how the Reagan administration impacted union membership and the efforts of the LECET to create jobs for union workers.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics.