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Newton Workers Win Strike

November 9, 2023

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The newsletter for the Iowa worker.

It’s Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.

If you’re a fan of worker power, you were absolutely stoked to see the recent UAW wins at the biggest three auto companies in the country (Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis).

Led by UAW president Shawn Fain, the roughly 150,000 workers around the country went on a plant-by-plant “stand-up strike” for around seven weeks. At one point, 46,000 workers at 40 plants and parts centers were officially striking.

Ford reached agreement first Oct. 25, followed by Stellantis and finally GM on Oct. 30.

If a majority of members agrees (voting is happening now), they’ll win the following and more:

at least 25% wage increases through 2028,
reinstatement of cost-of-living allowances (COLA),
an end to wage tiers depending on seniority,
a right to strike over plant closures.

The strike is already having a ripple effect:

Toyota, currently not unionized, is raising its wages,
More than three dozen lawmakers (all Democrats, none from Iowa) have signed onto a bill that would provide striking workers with unemployment insurance,
Fain is setting his sights anew on unionizing Toyota and Tesla plants.

Speaking of UAW agreements:

I’ve been telling you about the UAW Local 997 strike at Thombert in Newton that has been going for 82 days. Last month, a deal was struck, and workers voted to ratify it Oct. 21.

Details weren’t immediately available, but Steve Wertz, president of the local, told me when the strike began that the major sticking points were wages not keeping pace with inflation, lack of vacation time for less senior members, and proposed changes to workers’ health insurance.

Read on for more worker inspiration (work-spiration?),

Amie Rivers

Community Editor, Iowa Starting Line

Iowa Worker Highlights ☕️

Practice makes deals: After more than 200 workers with Teamsters Local 90 at Pepsi in Urbandale (pictured above) rejected their company’s offer, they practice picketed on Oct. 23—and by the next day, the two sides had hammered out a deal (ratified Oct. 29 with 77% in favor) that includes “record pay increases,” an end to mandatory overtime, and paid holidays, according to Teamsters 90 President Tanner Fischer.
100% yes to their unions: The whole theory behind making public workers recertify their unions (vote to keep them) every single year is, presumably, that over time it will demolish them. But it’s still not working: Iowa’s nearly 12,000 workers in 51 public education unions overwhelmingly vote to keep them going every year—including this year’s 100% success rate. “This is the sixth year of recertification elections and the sixth year of sweeping victories,” said Iowa State Education Association President Mike Beranek. “We are proud of our members and other strong public employees.”
Strike across the river: Ninety-four workers affiliated with UAW at East Dubuque Nitrogen Fertilizers, just across from Dubuque in Illinois, went on strike Oct. 18. Workers are upset the company eliminated 401(k) contributions in 2021, and they want 4% wage increases per year in the new four-year contract. Union president Doug Glab said, as of Tuesday, the company has refused to negotiate. “What we are asking for is not unreasonable,” he told me.

As Iowa housing costs soar, Biden wants to turn empty offices into housing

Before You Punch Out 🥊

Want to do something about human trafficking? How about ensuring some of the US’s most exploited workers become a little less exploited?

United Farm Workers is asking folks to support proposed new Department of Labor rules that would protect farm workers in the H2-A program. It would do so by prohibiting employers from restricting travel documents, targeting illegal fees in hiring, strengthening the right to form unions, and more.

The comment period ends Nov. 14.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Amie Rivers. Iowa Starting Line is happily free to read for everyone. Your financial support means a lot to us. Donate here.