With the cost of healthcare, food, and childcare rising, many Iowa workers are finding their wages haven’t kept up with those increased costs. Many workers are also concerned about retirement security. During the pandemic Iowans re-examined how much value their efforts have in the workplace.

The growing concerns of Iowa workers was on display last week as over 10,000 workers at John Deere went on strike in order to get fair wages and benefits for the hard work they do.

As Iowa’s economy has recovered, John Deere has experienced significant growth with stock share prices doubling and worldwide net sales rising by 27%. The CEO of Deere received a 160% raise, resulting in an annual compensation of $14.7 million.

The workers at Deere are asking for fair compensation and their share of the recent financial success of the company. Job postings show that the average salaries of production workers and assembly line factory workers at John Deere are below what the current living wage is.

In Iowa, it is estimated that a single parent with two children needs to earn $76,876 annually for a living wage, two adults (one working) needs to earn $65,125, and two adults (both working) need to each earn $42,598.

While the strike at John Deere has garnered the most headlines, workers across the country and in Iowa are recognizing their worth and demanding livable wages, better benefits, and respect in the workplace. Called the Great Resignation, a record 4.3 million workers quit their jobs in August.

House Democrats believe that frontline workers who keep places like John Deere running everyday deserve their share of financial success through fair wages, good benefits, and a secure retirement.

Iowans interested in supporting the workers at John Deere can donate food and water or join the picket lines in Waterloo, Quad Cities, Ottumwa, Dubuque, Clarion, Ankeny, Paton, and Rock Valley.

Vote on Second Redistricting Map Set for October 28

After a party-line vote earlier this month, Iowa Senate Republicans voted down the first nonpartisan redistricting plan submitted by the Legislative Services Agency (LSA). The second nonpartisan map for new Congressional and state legislative districts is scheduled to be released on Thursday, October 21st.

Iowa lawmakers will return to the State Capitol on Thursday, October 28th to consider the second map. House Democratic lawmakers plan to vote for the second map because they know it will be drawn according to the same fair, nonpartisan standards as the first.

Please encourage your legislators to put Iowans first by adopting fair, nonpartisan maps. Find your legislator at: legis.iowa.gov/legislators/find.

Economy Holding

Steady in Iowa

According to the state’s budget experts, Iowa’s economy continues to improve thanks to President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan.

The Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) met last week to update their budget projections for the current and upcoming budget years. The REC updated their growth projection for the current year (Fiscal Year 2022) after the books closed on FY 21 higher than expected.

Last March they had estimated 3.8% growth over FY 21, now they are estimating 1.5% growth compared to FY 2021. The October estimate sets total net receipts plus transfers at $8.934 billion. This is $133.6 million more than FY 2021.

Members of the REC mentioned several times how important the federal stimulus package was in keeping the economy. The projections from the October REC show that working families and their communities are getting left behind. Non-partisan experts continue to be concerned about low wages and the lack of Iowans to fill jobs.

Vote in Local

Elections November 2

City council and school board elections are set for Tuesday, November 2.

There have been many changes to Iowa election laws in recent years and Iowans are encouraged to make sure they are prepared to vote before election day.

Recent changes to Iowa voting laws resulted in 294,000 Iowa voters being moved to “inactive” status. Please check your voter registration and make sure it’s up to date.

You can register to vote on Election Day at the polls or when voting early in person at the County Auditor’s office. Find your local county auditor at: sos.iowa.gov/elections/auditors/auditorslist.html. You can vote at your precinct location on Election Day, November 2. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.