Government Notes: Iowa City Starbucks is first in Iowa to unionize

Workers at the Starbucks in downtown Iowa City unanimously voted to unionize, to become the first Statbucks in Iowa to do so.

An election was held earlier this month at the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Iowa City, and employees voted 25-0 in favor of unionizing, according to a May 11 Twitter post from Starbucks Workers United.

The petition to unionize was filed March 27 for the 31 employees at the Starbucks at 228 S. Clinton St. The petition, filed with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board, sought to unionize all full-time and regular part-time baristas and shift supervisors.

Workers at more than 290 Starbucks nationwide have unionized in a movement led by Starbucks Workers United. The company has almost 16,000 stores in the United States.

Eight Iowa City workers took part in a TikTok video by Starbucks Workers United explaining why employees want to unionize. Among the reasons given were prioritizing employee and customer safety, giving employees a voice and guaranteeing consistent schedules without the fear of losing shifts.

Cedar Rapids shares 2022 water quality report

The city of Cedar Rapids has published its latest annual water quality report, which gives a comprehensive look at the past year’s drinking water quality. It features all the work needed to provide safe, clean, great-tasting drinking water.

The city sent the report to residents and businesses in the May issue of the Our CR magazine.

Customers can learn about the city’s water quality by:

The city of Cedar Rapids Water Division continuously monitors source water quality and maintains standards for its water treatment process.

Liz Mathis honored with Jean Oxley award

The League of Women Voters Linn County has named former state Sen. Liz Mathis, a Hiawatha Democrat, as the recipient of its 2023 Jean Oxley Contribution award.

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Mathis is a former broadcast journalist and past chief community officer for Four Oaks and its affiliate agencies. Mathis ran for Congress in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District last year but lost her bid to unseat U.S> Rep. Ashley Hinson, a Marion Republican.

The League established the Jean Oxley Award in 2021 with the support of the Oxley family to honor individuals who have made significant contributions of service in Linn County.

The late Jean Oxley was a longtime League member and the first woman elected to the Linn County Board of Supervisors. She remains the longest-serving supervisor.

Oxley is remembered for her efforts to secure funding for the ARC of East Central Iowa and in establishing the Linn County Juvenile Detention Center to ensure minors are separate from adults.

Government Notes is published Mondays and contains updates from area governmental bodies. Gazette reporters Marissa Payne, Izabela Zaluska and Grace King contribute.