Labor Day is more than the unofficial end of summer. It’s a day to recognize the working people who built our communities—and the unions that helped generations of workers earn better wages, safer workplaces, reasonable hours, and a voice on the job.
Here in Dubuque County, that history is all around us.
Our community was built by people who made things, moved things, cared for people, taught our children, built our roads and buildings, and kept our businesses and public services running.
For generations, union members have stood together to make sure hard work is treated with dignity and respect.
For Democrats, supporting working people means supporting their right to organize, bargain collectively, earn a fair wage, work in safe conditions, and retire with dignity.
Those commitments are part of the Dubuque County Democratic Party’s 2026 platform.
Labor Has a Voice in Our Party
Those values aren’t abstract. They’re represented by people right here in our community.
State Senator Tom Townsend is a Navy veteran, electrician, and longtime IBEW member and labor leader. Before serving in the Iowa Senate, Tom spent years advocating for working people in Dubuque and across Iowa.
As Tom put it:
“I will always be an advocate for the working people of Iowa, working to ensure that their workplaces are safe and their wages are fair.”
That commitment to working people extends beyond the workplace. Tom has also been involved with the Dubuque Area Labor Harvest, an effort that grew out of organized labor and continues helping provide food to families in our community.
Matt Robinson, Democratic candidate for Iowa House District 72, brings his own experience as a union carpenter to his campaign for the Iowa Legislature.
When Matt filed to run earlier in 2026, surrounded by fellow union members, he explained why he decided to step forward:
“I started this campaign because I believe that working people deserve to have a voice in the Iowa House.”
Matt knows what it means to do the work. As he said in an interview this spring:
“I’m a field carpenter. I’m out in the field every day, baking in the sun and freezing in the cold.”
That kind of lived experience matters.
Working people deserve elected leaders who understand that a good job is about more than a paycheck. It’s about being able to support a family, put down roots, plan for the future, and know that your work is valued.
Celebrate Labor Day With Your Neighbors
Labor Day in Dubuque is a chance to come together and celebrate the working people who keep our community moving.
Join us Monday, September 7, for Dubuque’s Labor Day Parade & Picnic. Come out for the parade, stay for the picnic, and spend the day with union members, working families, friends, and neighbors from across our community.
And if you’d like to be part of the parade, we’d love to have you with us. Walk alongside the Dubuque County Democrats as we celebrate organized labor and show our support for working people across Dubuque County. RSVP below.