WATERLOO -- The Midwest Labor Press Association is holding its annual conference in Waterloo this week, ending Friday.

Members of the MLPA are labor communicators from various labor organizations through the Midwest.

Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack will be receiving the Eugene V. Debs award at the awards banquet Thursday night at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center.

Other recipients to receive this honor in the past include United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger, Sen. Howard Metzenbaum, AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Linda Chavez-Thomason and the entire Carnahan family from Missouri.

Tickets for the awards banquet are still available. They are $25 and can be obtained by calling Paul Beimborn or Gary Brown at the Ramada Hotel at (319) 233-7560.