Amie Rivers

Twenty behind-the-scenes workers that keep productions at a historic Iowa City theater running smoothly—including this weekend’s Mission Creek Festival—are asking for the public’s help to put pressure on their employer for their first union contract. Englert Theatre production crew members unanimously voted, 13-0, to unionize on Nov. 7 of last year, according to the National…

A Starbucks coffee shop in Iowa City is the first Starbucks in the state to file for union representation. The move occurred just two days before the company’s former CEO was asked to testify before a US Senate committee for union busting. Thirty-one workers at the Burlington and Clinton Starbucks, at 228 South Clinton St.,…

A bill that would add more hoops to jump through for federal public assistance money—legislation that would cost the state millions over the next few years to put in place—passed the Iowa Senate Wednesday. The bill, Senate File 494, passed along party lines, with all Republicans in favor and all Democrats against. Sen. Jeff Edler…

A small eight-person police department in western Iowa just won what’s believed to be the largest collectively bargained wage increase in Iowa history. The Carter Lake Peace Officers Association, the union covering the eight police officers of the City of Carter Lake, won 12% raises for new hires and up to 42% raises for their…

A major eastern Iowa employer has closed abruptly, laying off 81 people. Richelieu Foods in Grundy Center told Iowa Workforce Development on Feb. 28 it would be getting rid of 81 jobs by April 28 and closing its plant. According to the Grundy Register, the company closed the plant the same day it made the…

Another international company is laying off dozens of Iowans at the same time they’re enriching their stock price. Transamerica Life Insurance Co. told the state it would lay off 42 workers at its Cedar Rapids location March 21. The company said it employs 1,600 workers at that location. [inline-ad id=0] “Positions are being eliminated across…

March temperatures could determine whether Iowa’s outdoor construction industry thrives or withers—all because of a new law limiting unemployment that affects laid-off workers over the winter. By law, construction companies can’t pour concrete for roads, bridges, and other state and federal infrastructure projects unless the temperature is 35 degrees and rising. Iowa’s 26-week unemployment law…

A technology company with a 300-person office in eastern Iowa will lay off nearly three dozen workers here this spring. Arizona-based GoDaddy announced Feb. 8 it would lay off 8% of its global workforce, or 530 workers. That will include 35 workers at its Hiawatha customer service and support center, which is in the process…

The egg prices are too damn high. And perhaps there’s something more than just a deadly bird flu to blame. High egg prices were even addressed by Rep. Ashley Hinson at a recent town hall in Grundy Center, who brought it up unprompted when talking about her two sons, ages 10 and 11, who she…

A job fair specifically for people who were formerly serving time in jail or prison is happening this week in central Iowa. The Reform Iowa Job Fair will be from 1-7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. It is the first such job fair the group has put on…