Tag Archives: labor

Jobs Aren’t The Issue

Posted on February 6, 2023 by Paul Deaton

The overlooked part of President Joe Biden’s remarks about the January jobs report is this, “As my dad used to say, ‘A job is about a lot more than a paycheck. It’s about your dignity.’” Make no mistake that Democrats … Continue reading →

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John Deere Trying To Discontinue Retirement Benefits

Posted on October 25, 2021 by Trish Nelson

On Iowa Press this week we got to hear from Charlie Wishman, President of the Iowa Federation of Labor , AFL-CIO; and Paul Iversen, labor educator at the University of Iowa Labor Center, about the issues involved with the current … Continue reading →

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What Work Will We Do?

Posted on July 28, 2021 by Paul Deaton

Conventional wisdom is there is a worker shortage in Iowa. “Companies are really at a tipping point with respect to their workforce,” Iowa Business Council Executive Director Joe Murphy said in an interview with Perry Beeman of Iowa Capitol Dispatch. … Continue reading →

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An Immigrant In My Own Country

Posted on July 17, 2020 by Paul Deaton

Reprinted with permission from the Summer #2 2020 issue of  The Prairie Progressive, Iowa’s oldest progressive newsletter. The Prairie Progressive is  funded entirely by reader subscription,  available primarily in hard copy for $12/yr.  Send check to PP, Box 1945, Iowa … Continue reading →

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Organizing The Organizers

Posted on July 30, 2019 by Paul Deaton

The Democratic Party seems on the brink of descent into a primal ooze as we now debate political staffers forming unions in campaigns. What’s there to debate? Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg gets the overarching policy right. “Freedom means the ability … Continue reading →

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“Show Me the Money,” Wage Stagnation Among Workers in the United States

Posted on September 6, 2017 by Trish Nelson

by Ralph Scharnau The stock market breaks records, banks have nicely recovered from the Great Recession, unemployment hovers at historic lows, and the economy hums along. This idyllic picture masks the struggles of ordinary workers. They face a variety of … Continue reading →

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Bait And Switch Over Manufacturing Jobs

Posted on January 25, 2017 by Paul Deaton

Since the general election I’ve been laying low, listening to people talk about the new administration and what President Donald J. Trump means to them. Most supporters found a lot of what the president said and stands for to be … Continue reading →

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Reflections On Labor Day 2016

Posted on September 9, 2016 by bfiaralphscharnau

Labor Day means much more than sales events and holiday excursions. The day honors the men and women who provide the work that fuels our economy. Reports of falling unemployment, growing wages, and rising consumer confidence in the United States … Continue reading →

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Flint and Reagan's Wake

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Paul Deaton

Driving out of Flint, Mich. on Bristol Road wasn’t in the plans. I interviewed some 30 people, all but one male, for truck driving jobs at the Days Inn across from the GM plant. Tired and ready for sleep, I … Continue reading →

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Oscar Mayer's Long Road

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Paul Deaton

DAVENPORT — The Kraft Foods Oscar Mayer plant on Second Street will be razed as its new owner, Kraft Heinz, plans to move operations and layoff much of the workforce at the long-time meat packing plant. Wednesday’s announcement, that Kraft … Continue reading →

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