Labor leaders decry Gov. Reynolds’ lax child labor laws

Corridor labor leaders say Governor Reynold’s recent child labor laws defy decades-old federal government regulations that keep children safe in the workplace, putting them at risk for injuries or exploitation. On July 16, the Hawkeye Area Labor Council and the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Building Trades Council hosted a roundtable discussion at the IBEW 405 Union Hall, 1211 Wiley Blvd. SW in Cedar Rapids. There, five local labor leaders and advocates discussed the current state of child labor laws and enforcement in the U.S., emphasizing the need for stronger protections and education for young workers. They stressed the importance of protecting children from exploitation in the workplace and called for stronger action from state and federal agencies. “We really can't characterize this as anything other than a crisis,” said Jennifer Sherer, director of the State Worker Power Initiative with the Economic Policy Institute. Since 2015, child labor violations have rocketed, she said, with one consistent trend: “Every year, the restaurant industry has the highest number of overall violations in the country.” Since 2019, cases of illegally employed children have risen 88%, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Currently, the DOL is investigating 800 child labor cases. In May 2023, Gov. Reynolds signed Senate File 542 into law, which lowered the age for restaurant alcohol service to 16, extended work hours for 14 and 15-year-olds to 9 p.m., and eliminated work permits for teens; changes that were listed as “legislative wins” on the Iowa Restaurant Association’s website, which lobbied for the bill. These changes, however, are in direct conflict with the federal government’s laws surrounding child labor, resulting in fines for several Iowa businesses. “Many of these businesses will be forced to close because they cannot afford fines ranging up to $180,000. This is not about federal law versus state law, this is about people’s livelihoods,” Gov. Reynolds said in an email to the CBJ. “The congressional delegation and I are pushing back, asking the Department of Labor to reconsider these fines.” Ms. Sherer rejected the notion that the issue between the DOL and Iowa law is confusing and complicated, leaving businesses in the dark about the best way to move forward. “It's not complicated. (Child labor) principles have been in place since 1938,” she said. Child labor laws have never been a barrier to minors seeking employment prior to Iowa’s law change, Ms. Sherer said, countering the idea that the law was a solution to a tight labor market and worker shortage. “We're not saying kids can't work,” she said. “Part of what's built into the law is the presumption and the assumption that we want kids to start work when they're ready to, when they want to. But oppressive child labor in the statute is defined as work that interferes with schooling, health, or the well being of children. It’s those three things.” Union organizer, member of Teamsters Local 238 and Iowa State Rep. Sami Scheetz recounted the time he was touring Cedar Rapids’ Banjo Block development and encountered a child between the ages of 12-13 on a roofing job.

It was a stark reminder of the risks children can face in the workplace, when protective provisions are not in place. “We have to let more people in the legislature that care about our children, and that will continue to fight for workers. Not just for workers, but especially to protect our children across the state,” he said. The roundtable was sponsored by Hawkeye Area Labor Council, Iowa City Federation of Labor, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Building Trades Council, North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters, Teamsters Local 238, Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa, Common Good Iowa and the Iowa Federation of Labor AFL-CIO.