The 2021 John Deere strike is an ongoing strike action being undertaken by an estimated 10,000 United Auto Workers union members and workers of the John Deere company.[1]
Demands
The John Deere Workers Rank-and-File Committee has compiled the following demands:[2]
- An immediate end to the tier system, with the restoration of fully paid-for health care and pensions for all workers
- A 30 percent across-the-board pay increase to make up for the years of wage freezes and stagnation
- An annual cost-of-living escalator clause to keep up with spiking inflation
- Fully paid health care benefits for retirees and their widows, with no co-pays or premiums
- The abolition of the CIPP productivity improvement regime, with base pay increased to ensure no loss of income
- Maintain the eight-hour day and keep current overtime rules
- Workers’ oversight of safety protocols to stop the spread of COVID-19. The right to halt production and close the plant for full cleaning, with guaranteed compensation to workers for all missed time, if there are COVID outbreaks.
Ways to support
Financial support
⚠️ ProleWiki is currently researching strike funds which will be able to effectively deploy donated money.
Direct support
When donating items, it's best to donate things which are likely financially out of reach (if you've got the means to do so)
- Hot meals[3]
- Heaters (if striking in a cold location)
- Food for striking workers on the picket line.[4]
The international union is supplying the following already, which are no longer needed by other contributors:
- Bottled water
- Donuts
If you have any additional information, please add it here.
Notable events
On October 27th, the John Deere striking workers were expected to lose their health benefits, but the company decided to avoid that PR nightmare and extend benefits to striking workers.[5]
Tragically, a UAW striker was struck and killed by a vehicle on the picket line.[6][7][8]
References
- ↑ https://whogetsthebird.substack.com/p/weekly42
- ↑ Deere workers issue statement calling for strategy to win strike authored by the John Deere Workers Rank-and-File Committee published by World Socialist Web Site on Oct 14, 2021
- ↑ https://twitter.com/JonahFurman/status/1449418347842621447?s=20
- ↑ Community members such as church members and retirees supporting striking workers by bringing quesadillas to feed them
- ↑ John Deere union employees will continue to receive health insurance and bonuses after strike on USA Today
- ↑ Traffic fatality involves UAW striker
- ↑ National UAW mourns death of a striking Deere worker in Milan
- ↑ UAW Local 79 picket duties canceled for remainder of Wednesday