| Jeff Cooling, 33, is continuing his family's union tradition. His parents and grandparents were union members. He started his apprenticeship with IBEW 405 after graduating from Cedar Rapids Prairie in 2006 and now is a journeyman electrician. He and his wife, Amanda, have two children. Jeff is concerned about schools and child care, which he said was his family's largest monthly expense until their older child started school.
In addition to serving a second term as IBEW 405 president, Cooling is an area vice president at the Hawkeye Area Labor Council. He also has worked with his young trade unionist group since 2011, most recently volunteering with Project ReLeaf CR, planting trees in Cedar Rapids.
He wants to reverse the attack on workers' rights that he witnessed when the Legislature "gutted" Chapter 20 collective bargaining rights for public employees. Cooling was among the speakers at Capitol rallies against those changes in 2017. He also is concerned that "teachers, classrooms and public schools are underfunded and forgotten. Our infrastructure is aging, especially in our rural areas." |