Logan Thomas, a nurse at River Hills Community Health Center in Ottumwa, had never unionized before.
But he saw the news of thousands of nurses at UnityPoint hospitals in Des Moines unionizing over working conditions, and knew he wanted to try at his workplace.
He said it was issues like transparency from managers, fairness, and clear expectations that motivated him and his coworkers.
“These are more simple things that you would think that you could get without a union, but unfortunately it didn’t seem like that was the case,” he told me.
It’s this week’s top story.
|
Watch the latest edition of Clocked In on:
|
|
|
|
|
Amie Rivers
Newsletter Editor, Iowa Starting Line
Member, COURIER United (WGA East)
|
|
|
|
-
How much of your electric bill goes toward shareholder profits? Find out with this utility bill calculator here.
-
Trump promised Iowa farmers “great news” recently, but the president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association said that didn’t happen. And companies that need cheap immigrant labor aren’t finding it these days.
-
TSA agents get a paycheck: Though there’s still a government shutdown over ICE funding, President Donald Trump ordered DHS to pay TSA agents last week, and many got a month’s worth of backpay Monday.
- Iowa’s tax cut for the rich has predictably led to a tax increase on the rest of us, Ed Tibbetts writes.
-
Tipped workers still make $2.13 per hour, and have for the past 35 years.
-
Private equity, crypto, and other super risky investments now have access to our 401(k) accounts.
-
DOGE targeted Black women: Black women are 12% of the federal workforce, but were 33% of DOGE layoffs.
-
The kids aren’t all right, and they’re pissed about working harder for college degrees and having nothing to show for it. (And adults are losing good jobs and having to take low-wage gig work.)
-
Starbucks agreed to start bargaining again with the union after baristas went on strike for months—including at unionized stores in Des Moines and Iowa City. “There’s power in collective action,” Starbucks Workers United said. “Let’s finish this contract, Starbucks!
|
|
|
-
CNH Industrial in Burlington is closing and laying off:
47 workers by today,
16 workers by Apr. 8,
six workers by Apr. 9,
21 workers by Apr. 10,
14 workers by Apr. 13,
four workers by Apr. 17,
four by Apr. 24,
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:
49 workers by Saturday,
two workers by Apr. 18,
seven workers by May 2, and
62 workers by May 30. Read more here.
|
|
|
Would you pass this newsletter along to your fellow workers?
|
|
|
Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Amie Rivers. It was edited by Paula Solis.
Iowa Starting Line is free for everyone. Your support makes our work possible.
|
|
|
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.
Our mailing address is:
Iowa Starting Line
c/o COURIER Newsroom
101 Avenue of the Americas
8th and 9th Floors
New York, NY 10013
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or from this list.
|
|
|
|
