WATERLOO - The Hawkeye Labor Council, AFL-CIO - the nearly 10,000 member coalition of area labor unions - has elected new executive board members and officers for 2008.

Justin Shields of Ironworkers Local Union 89 and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union Local Union 110 was re-elected president of the council, made up of more than 40 area labor unions. Shields, a member of the Cedar Rapids City Council, was elected to his ninth consecutive term as president of the labor group.

The following officers were also elected: Rick Becker, Sheet Metal Workers Local 263, first vice president; Deb Hansen, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1634, second vice president; Randy Sconyers, SMW Local 263, treasurer. Roger Grobstich, an International Representative for the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union was elected secretary.

Re-elected to the council board were Todd Taylor, AFSCME Local 3012; Bill Hanes, IBEW Local 405, Ray Dochterman, Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 125, Wayne Clymer, AFSCME Local 620, Larry Schmidt of IBEW Local 204, Joie Welsh of Communications Workers of America Local 7101, Joe Ironside of International Association of Machinists Local Lodge 831, Scott Smith, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Local 447, Carl Unkel, International Association of Machinists Local Lodge 1526, Tom Haugen, IBEW Local 1362 and Dave Hogan of Carpernter's Local 308. Bob Rowe, Roofers Local 182 and Shelley Parbs, IBEW Local 1362, were newly elected to the executive board of the council.

Elected as council trustees were Jo Ellen Redenbaugh of AFSCME Local 231, Al Hartl of Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union Local 110, and Tom Lytle, Laborers International Union of North America Local 43.

Each officer and executive board member serves in this capacity through Jan. 31, 2009.

Alan Bernard is the executive director of the Hawkeye Labor Council, AFL-CIO.