- Nunn, Ernst beg Trump for China deal: President Donald Trump is supposed to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping today to iron out a trade deal after China has refused to buy US soybeans for months. US Sen. Joni Ernst, who is retiring, and US Rep. Zach Nunn, running for reelection, signed onto a letter this week asking Trump to hurry up. “Right now, bins are full, prices are underwater, and the ongoing government shutdown is adding even more uncertainty to an already tough situation,” Nunn said. “Iowa farmers deserve to compete on fair terms, and I look forward to hearing back from the administration.”
- Iowa DOGE is recommending taking away workforce development at community colleges and giving it directly to companies instead.
- Local unions fill backpacks for the homeless: IAM District 6 and IAM Local 254 in Des Moines filled backpacks with hygiene items, blankets, gloves, and nonperishable food to support homeless veterans in the metro. “We stand together to support those who’ve served our country, especially those facing homelessness,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli.
- We’re almost definitely in a recession now.
- Inflation is 3%, but Social Security is only getting a 2.8% increase next year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced last week.
- Home Depot is letting ICE agents wreak havoc inside their stores now, in addition to their parking lots. There’s now a movement to boycott the big box hardware chain in response.
- Trump’s deportations could eliminate 15 million jobs in 10 years. That’s not counting what Iowa is trying to add with its own state laws (one of which was just struck down in court). All those missing jobs, unless immigration reform is enacted, will mean the US economy as a whole will shrink.
- Starbucks labor pickets are coming. If you see one, here’s what they’re about.
- Shutdown = no union news: The National Labor Relations Board website database has been offline since the shutdown began Oct. 1, so workers cannot file a petition for a union or vote on one.
Upcoming layoffs:
All information taken from Iowa Workforce Development’s WARN Act website. Read WARN Act and Iowa WARN Act criteria here.
- Tri-State Envelope in Wapello closed and laid off 21 workers on Monday. They gave notice to the state the day of, in apparent violation of the WARN Act. Read more here.
- Greystone Manufacturing in Bettendorf laid off 85 workers on Wednesday. They gave notice to the state six days prior to the layoff, in apparent violation of the WARN Act. Read more here.
- RTX in Cedar Rapids is laying off two workers by Friday.
- Dubuque Bank and Trust/UMB in Dubuque is laying off 40 workers by Saturday. Read more here.
- John Deere is laying off 40 workers at Des Moines Works in Ankeny by Monday (read more here).
- Wells Fargo in West Des Moines is laying off 12 workers by Nov. 14, 23 workers by Nov. 28, and one worker by Dec. 12.
- Winnebago Industries is closing and continuing to lay off, including 26 workers in Charles City by Dec. 12. Read more here.
- Toyota Financial Services in Cedar Rapids is closing and laying off 54 workers by Dec. 31. Read more here.
