2 Iowa Starbucks stores join escalating national strike, and more Iowa Worker’s Almanac news and layoffs

News for the Iowa working class for the week of Dec. 4, 2025:

• 2 Iowa Starbucks stores join escalating national strike: Two of Iowa’s four unionized Starbucks locations joined a national Starbucks Workers United escalating strike today. Starbucks workers at the Des Moines and Iowa City stores walked out Thursday and are asking the community to join them in picketing, boycotting Starbucks until workers get a contract, and demanding the company bargain in good faith. The strike began Nov. 13 and has grown each week. Baristas will be picketing from 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. each day. Community members are invited to join the pickets, or bring hot food, hot drinks, and hand warmers to the strike line as bitterly cold temperatures have descended upon the state.
• Fewer jobs nationwide: Small businesses—those with fewer than 50 workers—cut 120,000 jobs across the US in November, surprising economists (but not regular people paying attention).
• Worse than Scrooge? After being bought by a private equity firm, Walgreens will no longer give workers paid time off for six major holidays, including Christmas, leaving workers scrambling. (Even Ebenezer Scrooge gave Bob Cratchit Christmas off with pay!)
  
  
• How much would your ACA insurance premium rise if premium tax credits aren’t approved by Congress this month? Use this calculator to find out.
• Is China really buying all the soybeans Trump said they would? Not right now, they’re not!

• Union endorsements: The Heat and Frost Insulators Local 39 in Council Bluffs and Omaha endorsed state Rep. Josh Turek for US Senate. “He’s been a fighter for the working class during his time in the state legislature and we know he’ll take that same fight to Washington,” said Local 39 business manager John Hanson. // The Heat and Frost Insulators Local 81 in the Quad-Cities endorsed state Sen. Zach Wahls for US Senate. “He’s been a consistent advocate for labor—someone we can count on to protect our right to organize, stand up for safe jobs, and defend fair wages and benefits,” said Local 81 business manager Sean Nagle. // The Communication Workers for America Local 7102 endorsed Jennifer Konfrst for US House District 3. “She’s been a strong voice for unions and working people, and she’s ready,” said Local 7102 secretary-treasurer Mark Rocha.
• Voting on a union: The postponed UnityPoint vote among 1,776 health care professionals at four Des Moines hospitals on whether to join Teamsters Local 90 has been rescheduled for Dec. 7-9. // Forty full- and part-time drivers and monitors at Durham School Services in Urbandale have filed a petition to unionize with Teamsters Local 90.

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 one worker by Dec. 12, 63 workers by Dec. 26, 26 by Jan. 2, and 14 by Jan. 23.
• Insane Impact in Des Moines is closing and laying off 90 workers by Dec. 17. However, the company told the Des Moines Register they were being acquired by Musco Sports Lighting and offered all workers roles with the new company, which will remain at the location. Read more here.
• Networking Imaging Solutions in North Liberty is closing and laying off 140 workers by Dec. 18. Read more here.
• Superior Tube Products in Davenport is closing and laying off 26 workers by Dec. 19. Read more here.
• Bauer Built Manufacturing in Paton is closing and laying off 62 workers by Dec. 31.
• Mason City Clinic in Mason City is laying off 147 workers by Dec. 31. Read more about a potential WARN Act violation here.
• RELCO in Cedar Rapids is closing and laying off 34 workers by Dec. 31. Read more 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.