This week’s must-read Iowa worker news:
- Reining in data centers: Linn County residents are concerned about what happens when large corporations build data centers nearby. But those data centers, one county supervisor told me, also provide jobs and increased economic activity in a region. So the county is trying something no other place in Iowa has tried.
- Rally for Whirlpool workers in Amana: The International Association of Machinists and the Hawkeye Area Labor Council held a rally for hundreds of laid-off workers last week, which you can watch here. “The layoffs are a failure to hold corporations accountable,” said IAM Midwest Territory Chief of Staff Terry Kimmell, “and a signal that Iowa must strengthen worker protections in economic development agreements.” Iowa governor candidate Rob Sand also blasted Whirlpool’s economic incentives. “Who is it that we give the money to that can’t promise that the jobs would stay here for two years?” he asked.
- Iowa has a ‘catastrophic’ mental health worker shortage, with under 20% of the psychiatrists we need, according to Inseperable.
- Less oversight, more injuries: The Trump Administration’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) performed 20% fewer inspections and issued 42% fewer fines for severe workplace violations in 2025 than in 2024. One guess as to what that means.
- Farmers hung out to dry: More than a year later, no one’s been paid any of the $400 million in drought aid promised to farmers. And hey: Fertilizer prices are expected to rise, too.
- Do you make more than $90,000? Cool, you can afford to support two kids in the Des Moines metro, according to the latest family budget calculator
- Walmart’s rolling out digital price labels at stores nationwide, the chain announced last week, with the United Food and Commercial Workers calling it “predatory pricing.” “Major retailers like Walmart see electronic shelf labels as the next opportunity to squeeze consumers for every dime they have,” said Ademola Oyefeso, UFCW International Vice President, calling on state legislators to pass bills stopping it. “The last thing we need is retailers turning our shopping habits into a weapon, using cameras and algorithms to quietly charge different people different prices for the same grocery cart,” added state Sen. Zach Wahls, who introduced such a bill this year.
- Should there be work requirements on rental aid? I mean, since Trump already “won affordability” (well, I guess he did with the rich).
- Union endorsements: The Northwest Iowa Building and Construction Trades Council, as well as the Iowa State Building and Construction Trades Council, both endorsed state Sen. Zach Wahls for US Senate in recent days. “Zach is going to stand up for union workers, good-paying jobs, and the communities that keep Iowa running,” said Chad Small, Vice President of the Northwest Iowa Building and Construction Trades Council. “Zach Wahls is the clear choice for working people in this race,” said Andy Roberts, President of the Iowa State Building and Construction Trades Council. // The Carter Lake Peace Officer’s Association endorsed Nate Willems for Iowa attorney general this week. “We trust Nate to support law enforcement, hold criminals accountable, and always stand up for rights of workers in our state,” said Gary Chambers, President of the Carter Lake Peace Officer’s Association.
- Voting on a union: Forty-five full- and part-time workers at River Hills Community Health Center in Ottumwa voted, 23-19, to be represented by Teamsters Local 90. Five ballots are still being challenged.
Upcoming layoffs:
All information taken from Iowa Workforce Development’s WARN Act website. Read WARN Act and Iowa WARN Act criteria here.
- Cedar Valley Corp in Waterloo is closing and laying off 89 workers by Tuesday. Read more here.
- MercyOne is laying off 67 workers at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center and 34 workers at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City by Tuesday. Read more here.
- Wells Fargo in West Des Moines is laying off 33 workers by Mar. 20, 49 workers by Apr. 4, 2 workers by Apr. 18, and 7 workers by May 2. Read more here.
- CNH Industrial in Burlington is closing and laying off 4 workers by Mar. 23, 4 workers by Apr. 1, 47 workers by Apr. 2, 16 workers by Apr. 8, 6 workers by Apr. 9, 21 workers by Apr. 10, 14 workers by Apr. 13, 4 workers by Apr. 17, 4 by Apr. 24, 18 workers by Apr. 30, 27 workers by May 1, 1 worker by May 22, and 7 workers by May 29. Read more here.
- Collis in Clinton is laying off 51 workers by Mar. 23. Read more here.
- American Contract Systems in Grimes is closing and laying off 47 workers by Mar. 31. Apparently, they were supposed to close last July, laying off 62 workers, which you can read about here.
