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Government

Unions Protest Possible Child Labor Law Changes in Iowa

Rallies will be held in the Quad Cities and across Iowa Saturday to protest some possible changes in the state's child labor laws.

Proposals include allowing teenagers as young as 14 to work six-hour shifts at night, and longer hours during the summer, allowing 15 year olds to work in factories, and lowering the age to serve alcohol to 16 and 17.

Dan Gosa, President of the Quad City Federation of Labor, thinks this is a result of a workforce shortage in the state.

"What the real issue that they need to hone in on is raising wages to living wages so folks can afford to live, and they don't have to worry about having their kids go to work as well to help support the household income."

He worries that other issues, such as book bans, have diverted attention away from these possible changes in Iowa's child labor laws. And that relaxing the current laws could put teenagers at risk of missing school and even severe injury.

A rally will be held at noon Saturday, at the hall of UFCW local 4-31 in Davenport (2411 W Central Park Ave). Other rallies are set for Des Moines, Keokuk, Peosta, Sioux City, Council Bluffs, and Iowa City.

Government