It’s Worker Wednesday: July 24, 2024.

Unless you were falling out of a coconut tree since Sunday, you already heard the news that President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race and endorsed his vice president, Kamala Harris, instead. (Democrats will officially decide the party’s nominee at their national convention in mid-August.)

With labor leaders nationally starting to weigh in, that made me wonder: How do Iowa’s worker advocates feel about Harris potentially being the Democratic nominee?

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris join hands after they watched the Fourth of July fireworks from the White House balcony in Washington, Thursday, July 4, 2024, during a Fourth of July celebration and barbecue for active-duty military service members and their families on the South Lawn. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

The AFL-CIO, which represents 12.5 million workers across 60 unions nationally, endorsed Harris on Monday.

Charlie Wishman, who heads up the state AFL-CIO, said “the difference for workers” between Harris and former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, was “plenty clear.”

“But in addition, the surge in energy I’ve seen in the past 48 hours is something that I haven’t seen in my life,” Wishman added. “It’s pretty remarkable.”

Rick Moyle with the Hawkeye Area Labor Council in Cedar Rapids noted Biden’s stance on worker rights was a major factor in his endorsement.

“From day one, Vice President Kamala Harris has been a key partner in leading the most pro-labor administration in our lifetimes,” Moyle said, adding the council “recognizes this and supports her in her run for President.”

Christopher Martin with United Faculty in Cedar Falls said his union doesn’t endorse specific candidates, but broadly supports those who support worker rights, including passing the PRO Act, getting rid of right-to-work laws, and reinstating Iowa’s Chapter 20 for public employees.

“When you look at candidates’ records, it’s very clear who is truly on the side of workers,” Martin said.

Joe Henry, with League of United Latin American Citizens and Forward Latino, said he figured Harris would continue the pro-worker policies of the president.

“The Biden administration worked diligently on strengthening the National Labor Relations Board and strike activity,” Henry said. “We can safely assume she will continue on with the type of support workers need.”

“I think it’s the right decision,” agreed Rosa Wilson with the Communication Workers of America in Dubuque.

Todd Copley with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 61 called Harris “seasoned, tough, and tenacious” and a “pro-worker champion” in his endorsement.

“She understands that unions and the working class are the engines of our economy,” Copley said.

What do you think of Harris? I’ll run more comments in Friday’s newsletter.

Amie Rivers

Community Editor, Iowa Starting Line

Email me

Working class news you can use:

Why would Gov. Kim Reynolds defend Iowa businesses that defy child labor laws? Because the GOP wants to loosen child labor laws nationally; it’s all part of Project 2025, Iowa labor advocates explained last week in Cedar Rapids.
Iowa immigrants don’t want to leave, but they may not have a choice, given Iowa Republicans’ clear desire to drive them out of the state. Yet, without them, Iowa’s agriculture industry—from factories to meatpacking to CAFOs and more—would collapse: Seven in 10 agricultural workers nationwide were born outside the United States.
Iowa Veterans Home workers protest staffing cuts: Workers at the state-run facility say funding cuts have led to “being cut to a skeleton crew” and “low, low morale.” Check out the photos from the July 17 protest here.
Dollar General slapped with $12 million fine: The Labor Department says the discount chain also needs to “make significant workplace safety improvements in stores nationwide.” And, if that sounds familiar, it’s because they were fined more than $15 million in 2023 for the same stuff.
When not enough workers causes deaths: While the nursing home industry continues to whine that being forced to comply with minimum staffing is not possible, nursing home residents continue to suffer and die from a lack of care in Iowa.
Fewer Iowa workplace inspections: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently found Iowa OSHA had a “decrease in planned versus actual safety and health inspections completed.” Iowa OSHA was supposed to conduct at least 462 safety inspections and 197 health inspections in FY 2023, but completed just 399 safety and 141 health inspections. “This is a trend,” OSHA said in its report, noting Iowa “did not meet inspection goals in FY 2022” either.
The anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act is Friday, but most managers admit they need more training around how to help workers with a disability. The top three things your boss wants to learn more about, according to a new report: Disability as part of diversity programs, the use of assistive technology, and general understanding. (Here’s one possible resource on disability training for workplaces, and here’s another from Disability Rights Iowa.)
Voting on a union: 36 bricklayers and mason helpers at 5G Masonry in Boone, Dallas, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Polk, Story, and Warren counties voted yesterday on whether to unionize with Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 3. I’ll update with the vote tally when I get it!
Iowa layoffs coming up:
– Cygnus Home Services, or Yelloh, is laying off eight workers in Cedar Falls, 16 workers in Des Moines, five workers in DeWitt, and five workers in Humboldt by Saturday.
– Tyson Foods in Perry is still closing, but slowly: 32 workers will be laid off by Saturday, another 32 workers by Aug. 24, and the remaining five workers by Sept. 28.
– Amcor in Des Moines is laying off one worker by Aug. 1, and nine workers by Sept. 1.
– Wells Fargo in West Des Moines is laying off 26 workers by Aug. 11, and 10 workers by Aug. 25.
– West Liberty Foods is laying off one worker by Aug. 18.
– Smithfield Packaged Meats in Altoona is closing and laying off 319 workers by Aug. 30. Read more about that here.
– John Deere Davenport Works is laying off 211 workers by Aug. 30.
– John Deere Dubuque Works is laying off 99 workers by Aug. 30.

Before you punch out ✊

Workers across the country are voting to join unions at the highest rate in 15 years, thanks to a pro-worker presidential administration and increased union activity at the grassroots level.

They’re also “union-curious,” though largely uncertain about what a union can do for them, per the Economic Policy Institute. (Here’s one big one: Union households have 1.7 times more median wealth than non-union ones.)

Meanwhile, corporations are union busting to the tune of $400 million+ per year. (In case you’re wondering if your boss really DOES have the money to give everyone raises.)

But they can only stop unionization because of this country’s lax labor laws. Here’s one big way to change that (it’s the PRO Act).