Iowa Worker’s Almanac layoffs and news for Nov. 6, 2025

Iowa Worker’s Almanac news briefs:

• China agrees to buy soybeans, ending monthslong standoff: The world’s largest buyer of soybeans refused to buy anything from the US for months because of Trump’s punitive tariffs. Last week, after Trump lowered his tariff to 10%, China agreed to buy 12 million tons this year, less than half of what it usually purchases. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig called it “great news” and Iowa Farm Bureau president Brent Johnson said it was “welcomed news and should provide some price support to struggling U.S. soybean markets.” But farmers will likely still need help from the government for a while.
• Case New Holland will close its Burlington plant by 2026, the company announced this week, with 200 workers laid off by the middle of next year. The company blames it on the ag downturn broadly affecting sales (even Sen. Chuck Grassley said recently ag monopolies are a big reason for that), but United Auto Workers had been in the middle of bargaining. Workers will hold a rally protesting the decision to close Friday at 3:30 p.m. at 400 North Front St., Burlington, that will feature national UAW President Shawn Fain, Burlington’s mayor, and more. “CNH has made $6.6 billion in profits in the last three years alone and has spent over $3.1 billion of that on shareholder distributions and CEO pay,” the union said in a statement.
  
• Union endorsements: The Iowa Federation of Labor announced this week its endorsements of Rob Sand for governor, Nate Willems for Iowa attorney general, and Renee Hardman for Iowa Senate District 16’s special election on Dec. 30. “Rob’s campaign is about working together,” president Charlie Wishman said at a rally announcing the endorsements. “It’s about getting past all of the partisanship.” Communication Workers for America Local 7102 also announced their endorsement of Jennifer Konfrst for Iowa’s Third Congressional district. Konfrst has also been endorsed by Teamsters Local 90 and Plumbers and Steamfitters 33. “She’s been a strong voice for unions and working people, and she’s ready to fight for us in Congress,” CWA legislative chair Mark Rocha said.
• Journalism job listing: Want to buy two papers in Southwest Iowa? Or maybe just do some reporting? The Avoca Journal Herald is looking for a hard news reporter with “experience in covering all news angles including some sports,” and photography skills are “mandatory.” The salary is $50,000, but if you want to take ownership of the two weekly papers, you’ll get an extra $10,000 per year. Send resumes to Avoca Journal-Herald, Box 308 Avoca, Iowa 51521, or email to [email protected].
• Starbucks workers practice going on strike: Des Moines Starbucks workers, who just recently unionized, held a practice strike last month in anticipation of a national strike. Starbucks Workers United, which has thousands of members across the country, voted to authorize a strike Nov. 13—the company’s “Red Cup Day”—if the company continues to refuse to bargain. Learn more about workers’ demands and sign a pledge to boycott if they strike here.
  
• AI is definitely taking jobs now, starting with Amazon.
  
• Shutdown = no union news: The National Labor Relations Board website database has been offline since the shutdown began Oct. 1, so workers cannot file a petition for a union or vote on one.

Upcoming layoffs

All information taken from Iowa Workforce Development’s WARN Act website. Read WARN Act and Iowa WARN Act criteria here.

• Wells Fargo in West Des Moines is laying off 12 workers by Nov. 14, 23 workers by Nov. 28, one worker by Dec. 12, and 63 workers by Dec. 26.
• BHFO in Cedar Rapids is closing and laying off 46 workers by Nov. 26. Read more here.
• Winnebago Industries is closing and continuing to lay off, including 26 workers in Charles City by Dec. 12. Read more here.
• Mason City Clinic in Mason City is laying off 147 workers by Dec. 31. Read more about a potential WARN Act violation here.
• RTX in Cedar Rapids is laying off three workers by Dec. 31.
• Toyota Financial Services in Cedar Rapids is closing and laying off 54 workers by Dec. 31. Read more here.