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SEIU Local President Explores Potential Run For Iowa Governor


Last week, Cathy Glasson, who currently serves as President of SEIU Local 199, launched an exploratory gubernatorial campaign for the upcoming Governor's race in 2018.  (This union represents nurses, health care workers and school support employees.)  Readers might recall that President Donald Trump recently appointed former Republican Governor Terry Branstad to serve as Ambassador to China.  As a result, Governor Branstad's Lieutenant Governor, Republican Kim Reynolds, assumed the position on May 24th of this year.  In doing so, she became the state's first female governor.

In Glasson's announcement, she criticized Republicans for adopting policies which she claimed prohibited growth in the middle class and called for an increase in the hourly minimum wage rate from its current rate of $7.25/hour up to $15/hour.  (Glasson indicated that efforts by Republicans in the state to roll back minimum wage rates earlier this year was a driving reason for her interest in joining the Governor's race).  As president of SEIU Local 199, it should not come as much of  a surprise that she also advocated for more workers in the state joining unions and employee associations.

It is still far too early to say whether Glasson will gain any traction in the race should she formally choose to throw her hat in the ring, but she certainly would add a pro-union/pro-employee voice to the race.  Stay tuned.


For additional information:   http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2017/05/31/union-leader-glasson-exploring-run-iowa-governor/358078001/

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