Laborers Rising

Building Awareness

Building Awareness

In the Know - Get Involved
Feel the Power at Laborers Local 177

Knowledge is Power

Building Awareness is designed to keep our members informed about the local news, policies, and elections that directly impact unions and the hardworking men and women who drive our industries forward.

From updates on legislation affecting workers’ rights to insights on community projects and local elections, this is your go-to resource for staying connected and engaged. Together, we can make informed decisions, strengthen our union, and ensure a brighter future for all.

In Session With Dylan

Dylan Gramlich
Dylan Gramlich • Political Director

Born in Des Moines at Mercy Hospital in December 1993.

Graduated from Knoxville High School in 2012.

Graduated from University of Iowa in 2017.

  • Studied history and political science.
  • During breaks worked for Iowa LECET.
  • Compliance Investigator/Job site monitor.


Became a member of Local 177 in August of 2017.

  • 4th generation Laborer!


Work for Midwest Regional and Iowa LECET offices.

  • Organizer/Political Organizer/Fund Representative/Lobbyist/Political Director.
  • Local 177 VOC member.
  • Serves on State of Iowa Workers Compensation Advisory Committee Board.
  • Delegate to South-Central Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO.
  • Delegate to Central Iowa Building and Construction Trades Council.


Focus on Iowa politics- at all levels- helping to promote, push and institute worker friendly policies at the Local, State and Federal levels by working with elected officials of both parties who share our political ideals and values.

Lives in Newton with wife- Emily and two children- Emalyn and Colson and their 4 fur babies.

Check this space for the latest updates on the initiatives Dylan is tracking on the local, state, and federal levels to protect your rights, your paycheck, and your benefits. Learn more about what’s on the radar and how it impacts Laborers 177 members!

November 2025

Election results- 2025 City Council/School Board.

  • All endorsed candidates won except Dave Boesen - Waterloo Mayor - Run off Dec 2, 2025.

LEAN Introduction to membership.

This month we had our friend Nate Boulton speak to the members and retirees in
attendance at our monthly membership meeting. Nate is a labor lawyer by trade and a
former State Senator that is currently running for a Iowa House of Representatives seat in Des Moines. Nate spoke about the importance of pro-worker legislators that can drive pro-Union agendas once in the majority. Nate has reconfirmed his support for our members and the work they do everyday building the next generation of Iowa
infrastructure.

Meeting with candidates running for office at all levels of government.

Reminder- Follow the Local on social media outlets.

  • Like, comment, share posts.

Watch new ‘In The Know: Laborers RISE’ video.

Meeting with candidates running for office at all levels of government.

November 2025 City Council/School Board elections.

  • Voter Registration
  • Endorsements to come in following months

Reminder- Follow the Local on social media outlets.

  • Like, comment, share posts.

HF639- Pipeline Bill.

  • Governor Reynolds vetoed HF639. Bill would have killed all current and future pipeline construction projects within State. Anticipating legislative action early next session. Working to educate ALL House/Senate members prior.

Meeting with candidates running for office at all levels of government.

November 2025 City Council/School Board elections.

  • Voter Registration
  • Endorsements to come in following months

New ‘In The Know’ video for June 2025.

  • Focused on Davis-Bacon/Prevailing-Wage.

HF639- Pipeline Insurance Bill.

  • Richie Schmidt and I met with Governor Reynolds, earlier this week, to discuss HF639 (pipeline bill) veto.
  • She has until June 14th to decide.

This year's Workers Memorial Day event has been relocated from the Iowa State Capital to the Union Labor Park. The event will be held on Monday, April 28th , 2025 at 11am. Come help us honor the memory of those that were killed last year while on the job.

SF603- Workforce Development Bill.

  • Amendment to bill: Passed both chambers under 24 hrs/Governor signed.
  • S-3030: “Prohibits cities and counties from adopting requirements for apprenticeships, employee compensation, or other requirements for contractors that are different than state law”.

HF639- Pipeline Insurance Bill.

  • House Passed
  • Senate amended and passed out of committee. Further amend on floor.

HF943- Eminent Domain/CO2 Pipeline Bill.

  • Dead

PBM Bill.

  • Continue working with leadership to mitigate hits/financial damage to H&W funds.

Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM).

  • As proposed this legislation could cost our health and welfare funds upwards of half a million dollars per year due to increased prescription benefit costs per member amongst other administrative fees incurred by the fund.

Governor's Unemployment Insurance.

  • Cuts employer pay-in rate by half from 66%-33%.
  • Working to amend bill to get weeks out benefits back for ‘seasonal’ workers.

Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM).

  • We are unclear of the positive/negative outcomes yet. Still monitoring.

Governors Unemployment Insurance.

  • Cuts the employer pay-in rate by half from 66%-33%.
  • Working to get weeks back for ‘seasonal’ workers unemployment.

Casino Moratorium.

  • Died in Senate. Would have halted casino construction in State until 2030.

Urging members to visit Laborers Rising 177 website.

  • Have members utilize information on site for educational purposes.
Trump on Windmills

Attention Windmill Laborers!

Donald Trump continues to make headlines with  unfounded and exaggerated claims about windmills. While it may be easy to laugh off these statements, the implications for hardworking Americans, especially those in the labor movement, are no joke.

Trump’s remarks dismisses the importance of renewable energy—an industry that has created thousands of good-paying union jobs and represents a critical part of the future for laborers. From building wind farms to maintaining infrastructure, this work isn’t just about clean energy; it’s about securing stable, long-term employment for our members.

"We don't want windmills in this country. We're putting an order out, I've already sort of done it."
Donald Trump
1-23-2025
"We're gonna try to have the policy of no windmills being built."
Donald Trump
1-7-2025

Fact Check

Iowa has a strong local connection to the wind industry. Companies such as Siemens Gamesa have had blade manufacturing facilities in Iowa (Fort Madison, for example), and other suppliers and manufacturers operate regionally to support the booming wind energy sector.

While some turbine parts may come from China or other countries, Iowa’s wind energy sector prioritizes local labor and materials when possible.

The expected service life of wind turbines is approximately 30 years.

https://windexchange.energy.gov/end-of-service-guide

Wind power is cost-effective. Land-based, utility-scale wind turbines provide one of the lowest-priced energy sources available today. Furthermore, wind energy’s cost competitiveness continues to improve with advances in the science and technology of wind energy.

https://www.energy.gov/eere/wind/advantages-and-challenges-wind-energy

At this point, there is no scientific evidence that noise resulting from offshore wind site characterization surveys could potentially cause whale deaths. There are no known links between large whale deaths and ongoing offshore wind activities.

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/marine-life-distress/frequent-questions-offshore-wind-and-whales

"We're gonna try to have the policy of no windmills being built."
Donald Trump
1-7-2025
Windmill Jobs

Building Clean Energy & Secure Retirements

Jobs That Build Futures: Windmill construction is more than a paycheck; it’s an investment in your retirement. Every hour worked contributes to your pension fund, building security for your future.

Clean Energy, Secure Benefits: Supporting renewable energy projects like windmills ensures more work opportunities, which means steady contributions to your pension—and less worry down the road.

Without These Jobs: Losing windmill work isn’t just about job loss. It’s about fewer contributions to the pension fund, which impacts the financial security of every member.

Let’s advocate for clean energy projects that not only build a better planet but also protect the benefits we’ve earned through our hard work. Together, we ensure a strong future for workers and retirees alike.

Informed & United

Stay informed. Stay empowered. Stay union strong.

Local

Stay Informed on Local Issues That Matter!

Local

The latest updates on the policies, projects, and decisions impacting our jobs and community. From city council actions to local developments, we've got the information you need to stay engaged and make a difference.
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State

Stay Up to Date on Statewide Issues!

State

Updates on legislation, policies, and initiatives shaping the future of our work and industry. From workforce development to labor laws, we’re covering the topics that directly impact you and your family.
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Federal

Get the Latest on Federal Issues that Impact Unions & Jobs.

Federal

Stay informed about national policies and legislation that impact your jobs, benefits, and union rights. From infrastructure investments to labor protections, we’re keeping you connected to the big picture.
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Find Your Elected Officials

Enter your address to discover your representatives at all levels of government

Local

City of Des Moines Bid Specification Improvements

  • Working to educate City Council members in Des Moines to include registered apprenticeship language in bid specs.
  • Emphasizing importance of using CBAs on local projects when able.
  • End goal being increased work opportunities for our membership.
What's a CBA

State

Legislative Session 2025

  • Legislative session begins Monday, January 13th, 2025 and goes until beginning of May 2025.
  • Beginning 8th year of one-party control of House, Senate and Governor.
  • Legislative priorities: Property tax reform, education reform, health care reform, etc.
Contact Legislators

Federal

Department of Labor Appointment

  • Lori Chavez-DeRemer (Oregon-Former US Rep).
  • Co-sponsored PRO Act (Protect the Right to Organize Act).
  • Faces confirmation by US Senate in 2025.
Pro Act Summary