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John Deere workers on strike

Tin Roof

Tin Roof

Rusted
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May 20, 2020
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Iowa
ANKENY, Iowa —
More than 10,000 Deere & Co. workers went on strike after negotiators couldn't deliver a new agreement.

In a statement, The United Auto Workers said "members struck at midnight October 14, after the company failed to present an agreement that met our members' demands and needs."


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The vast majority of the union rejected a contract offer earlier this week that would have delivered 5% raises to some workers and 6% raises to others.

Thirty-five years have passed since the last major Deere strike, but workers are emboldened to demand more this year after working long hours throughout the pandemic and because companies are facing worker shortages.

JOHN DEERE STATEMENT

John Deere released the following statement:

“John Deere is committed to a favorable outcome for our employees, our communities, and everyone involved,” said Brad Morris, vice president of labor relations for Deere & Company. “We are determined to reach an agreement with the UAW that would put every employee in a better economic position and continue to make them the highest paid employees in the agriculture and construction industries. We will keep working day and night to understand our employees’ priorities and resolve this strike, while also keeping our operations running for the benefit of all those we serve.”

UNION DEMANDS

The workers at the Ankeny, Iowa, plant are asking John Deere for a raise and better retirement benefits.

Charlie Wishman, the president of the Iowa Federation of Labor, spoke with KCCI on Wednesday. He gave us some insight into why UAW members chose this path.

"They're going on strike. They're not going to be paid, but the hope is that down the road that they are going to have a bigger share of the wealth they helped those companies create," Wishman said.

John Deere is expected to post record profits this year. The average production worker at Deere made about $60,000 last year but could see up to $72,000 by the end of negotiations.

HARVEST IMPACT

Farmers say their future is uncertain as those John Deere workers go on strike.

One Linn County farmer told KCRG the impact goes beyond workers, stockholders and the company. If they don't have a part that’s usually in stock, the harvest season could come to a halt.

"If you can't get it from John Deere because of the strike, that could become a real issue for somebody. They could be going from working to sitting and waiting for parts," John Airy said.

Airy said he isn't worried about the harvest season for himself since he has another working combine, but he says other farmers aren't in the same position.
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Not exactly a well written article. From what I've been told directly from people that work there is that Deere wanted to cut back their insurance benefits and not give any raises. The workers want to keep their insurance as is, and get a reasonable raise over the next 6 year contract. I don't see that being unreasonable.
 
Deere has dozens if not hundreds of incomplete machines stockpiled waiting on various parts to finish. I'm sure corporate isn't bothered by a strike, it gives them a chance to have zero labor cost while they wait on parts.
 
Tin Roof said:
Not exactly a well written article. From what I've been told directly from people that work there is that Deere wanted to cut back their insurance benefits and not give any raises. The workers want to keep their insurance as is, and get a reasonable raise over the next 6 year contract. I don't see that being unreasonable.
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that 100% depends on the health of the company and what its investing in to secure its future.
 
MuntCuffin said:
You think deere gives a shit about putting out a quality product?

Deere makes their money off parts, not off completed machines.
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I already stated fuck john deere.

and their almost predatory parts and service setup.
 
so all these monitored only fixed by JD tractors are still being monitored?
 
junkytj said:
so all these monitored only fixed by JD tractors are still being monitored?
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probably.
ain't no union involved in the parts departments of your local dealers. I doubt the IT nerds running the telematics are union either.
 
87manche said:
I already stated fuck john deere.

and they're almost predatory parts and service setup.
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I'd go a step further and say predatory engineering.

Using proprietary hydro motors where any off the shelf motor would work.

$750 from deere....versus an off the shelf unit with same specs but different bolt pattern is $225.


Fuck deere. The bad thing is, its industry wide. They all fucking do the same bullshit.

Had the pay $300 for some deere tech to come out with a computer and "calibrate" the new turbo on our self propelled spreader after we installed it. Money grubbing fuckers. Freightliner is up to the same tricks with all the modules they use that can only be programmed at the dealer.
 
MuntCuffin said:
I'd go a step further and say predatory engineering.

Using proprietary hydro motors where any off the shelf motor would work.

$750 from deere....versus an off the shelf unit with same specs but different bolt pattern is $225.


Fuck deere. The bad thing is, its industry wide. They all fucking do the same bullshit.

Had the pay $300 for some deere tech to come out with a computer and "calibrate" the new turbo on our self propelled spreader after we installed it. Money grubbing fuckers. Freightliner is up to the same tricks with all the modules they use that can only be programmed at the dealer.
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I get your mad about the money you spent but good on them for running a business and securing its re-occurring parts revenue. Smart business practice.

Edit - this was post 1234 for me and I am not sure I want to post again and mess up the mojo.
 
Poke said:
I get your mad about the money you spent but good on them for running a business and securing its re-occurring parts revenue. Smart business practice.

Edit - this was post 1234 for me and I am not sure I want to post again and mess up the mojo.
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Never said it wasn't smart.

Just incredibly short sighted. All forms of exploitation are.
 
MuntCuffin said:
Never said it wasn't smart.

Just incredibly short sighted. All forms of exploitation are.
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Actually just the opposite of short sighted. Even when new sales go down in a bad economy the parts sales stay strong or get stronger. No mater how much I hear people bitch about the green machine parts prices, I still see plenty of people buying Deere.
 
Tin Roof said:
Actually just the opposite of short sighted. Even when new sales go down in a bad economy the parts sales stay strong or get stronger. No mater how much I hear people bitch about the green machine parts prices, I still see plenty of people buying Deere.
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Deere aint the only people that make parts for deere. We are shifting our parts purchasing away from deere parts and are throwing a lot of money at right to repair advocacy groups.

We are prepared to walk away from deere, too.

This is a 14k acre farm in the corn belt.

Yeah, its short sighted.
 
MuntCuffin said:
Deere aint the only people that make parts for deere. We are shifting our parts purchasing away from deere parts and are throwing a lot of money at right to repair advocacy groups.

We are prepared to walk away from deere, too.

This is a 14k acre farm in the corn belt.

Yeah, its short sighted.
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I can't say I disagree with any of your points, but I'm willing to bet Deere will be around and profitable long after you and I are gone.
 
Tin Roof said:
Not exactly a well written article. From what I've been told directly from people that work there is that Deere wanted to cut back their insurance benefits and not give any raises. The workers want to keep their insurance as is, and get a reasonable raise over the next 6 year contract. I don't see that being unreasonable.
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Not sure who/when you spoke to people that work for Deere, but absolutely untrue. The proposed contract is public information and available online.

Their insurance did NOT change - still 100% paid for, with only out of pocket being their co-pay.
Proposed initial 5-6% raise and then increases over the next 6 years of the contract, along with increased % of their incentive pay and more payouts on that. Cost of Living increases had not been negotiated in the last 6 year contract, those were proposed to be reinstated in this contract.
 
MuntCuffin said:
I'd go a step further and say predatory engineering.

Using proprietary hydro motors where any off the shelf motor would work.

$750 from deere....versus an off the shelf unit with same specs but different bolt pattern is $225.


Fuck deere. The bad thing is, its industry wide. They all fucking do the same bullshit.

Had the pay $300 for some deere tech to come out with a computer and "calibrate" the new turbo on our self propelled spreader after we installed it. Money grubbing fuckers. Freightliner is up to the same tricks with all the modules they use that can only be programmed at the dealer.
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Why single out Deere for you to bitch about? Try buying a generic off the shelf hydro pump for a cat, fiat or a lot of other brand equipment out there.
 
YotaRedneckGirl said:
Not sure who/when you spoke to people that work for Deere, but absolutely untrue. The proposed contract is public information and available online.

Their insurance did NOT change - still 100% paid for, with only out of pocket being their co-pay.
Proposed initial 5-6% raise and then increases over the next 6 years of the contract, along with increased % of their incentive pay and more payouts on that. Cost of Living increases had not been negotiated in the last 6 year contract, those were proposed to be reinstated in this contract.
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Can't wait to see combines that say "hencho en Mexico."
 
YotaRedneckGirl said:
Not sure who/when you spoke to people that work for Deere, but absolutely untrue. The proposed contract is public information and available online.

Their insurance did NOT change - still 100% paid for, with only out of pocket being their co-pay.
Proposed initial 5-6% raise and then increases over the next 6 years of the contract, along with increased % of their incentive pay and more payouts on that. Cost of Living increases had not been negotiated in the last 6 year contract, those were proposed to be reinstated in this contract.
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According to a half dozen people at the Dbq plant, one being my neighbor and one being my granddaughter's mom, the original proposal from a few weeks ago was increasing the copay and backed off the insurance benefit from 100% paid to I believe 80%, I don't remember exactly. It also did not include any raise similar to the last 6 year contract.

That's why they initially were going to strike, then was extended to now. I haven't seen what this offer includes, and believe you on that.
 
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