Union Members at Labor Day Parade Want Iowa’s Child Labor Laws to Change

(Des Moines) At the annual Labor Day Parade, union members and lawmakers ask for change in Iowa’s child labor laws.  The Department of Labor now allows 16 and 17-year-olds to work with heavy machinery, meaning they can skip past the need to register with a state or federal agency.  This is all after a law passed by Iowa Republicans that lifted many restrictions.  At the parade yesterday, the Iowa Federation of Labor president, Charlie Wishman, said people must ensure the policy is safe and fair for these workers.  Iowa Republicans say the law will allow young adults to add work experience.