I was chatting with Matthew Peirce about being laid off from his job at a small insurance company in Des Moines recently, when he dropped this bombshell:
“I’m moving to Germany,” he said, noting his plan was to leave in May. “I’m done.”
His job was automated out, but he’s not upset with the company as much as he hates that changing jobs in America means finding one with good health insurance, too.
And he knows, from spending 18 months in Germany years ago, that he can get better care for less money in that country—without it being tied to where he’s working.
“I’m leaving because this system is broken, so I’m not gonna participate anymore,” Peirce said. “Germany’s getting my work and the US isn’t; too bad.”
It’s this week’s top story.
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Amie Rivers
Newsletter Editor, Iowa Starting Line
Member, COURIER United (WGA East)
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Brenntag Great Lakes workers unanimously approve new contract: After a 60-day lockout, workers affiliated with Teamsters Local 90 in Des Moines won wage and pension increases, paid parental leave, better protections on the job, and more.
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More people moved from Iowa than moved to the state for the second year in a row, with a net loss of 970 Iowans in 2025, according to a new report.
- AE Dairy workers also win big, with Teamsters Local 120 calling it “the strongest contract ever” that members ratified this week.
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Are you seeing higher airline ticket or bag prices? Reply and let me know.
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Snap-On in Algona also ratified a new contract, which includes “substantial” annual wage increases, signing bonuses, additional holidays, and more, according to their union, IAM Local 1045.
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Starbucks is back at the table negotiating a first contract with workers, but it’s not going great.
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Union endorsements: Before the primaries, the Iowa Federation of Labor released its list of Senate, House, and state candidate endorsements.
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Wahls’ plan for workers: Zach Wahls, a candidate for US Senate for Iowa, released a sweeping 10-point economic platform targeting corporate monopolies, billionaire tax breaks, and the rising cost of housing, childcare, and wages. Iowa Starting Line’s Zachary Oren Smith has the details here.
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Trump wants to cut $4.9 billion from the USDA, or about a fifth of the department’s budget. “It’ll be hard for our constituents to believe that USDA serves America’s farmers and rural communities when USDA is taking away their services,” said Georgia Rep. Sanford Bishop.
- They passed increased tariff costs on to us, but they’re getting the refunds?
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Artificial intelligence, but make it worker-friendly: “Does AI and robotics have some positive things? Yeah,” Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said recently, pushing for a moratorium on data centers. “How do we use it to improve human life and not just make Mr. [Elon] Musk and his billionaire friends even richer?”
- Companies won’t move as many US jobs to Mexico if Mexican workers start getting paid better, so solidarity with their fight!
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Keep the line moving, Amazon bosses told workers for an entire hour after one of their coworkers dropped dead.
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Trump has gutted the US Forest Service. Here’s what that means and how it’s causing chaos already.
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Working on a union: 120 production leads, production workers, and maintenance workers at Fair Oaks Foods in Davenport filed a petition on Tuesday to hold an election on whether to be represented by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 431.
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CNH Industrial in Burlington is closing and laying off:
four workers by Friday,
18 workers by Apr. 30,
27 workers by May 1,
one worker by May 22,
seven workers by May 29,
15 workers by June 26,
13 workers by Sept. 25, and
five workers by Dec. 31. Read more here.
- Wells Fargo in West Des Moines is laying off:
seven workers by May 2,
62 workers by May 30, and
25 workers by June 15. Read more here.
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Would you pass this newsletter along to your fellow workers?
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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Amie Rivers. It was edited by Paula Solis.
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