Community Chat

[Luvsmyfam]

well,the john deere strike has started in the quadcities.i have family members including my father,who has been retired from deere for 30 yrs,walking the picket lines.so darn typical of a company making huge profits,but not willing to give the employees a decent living wage.

[BExplorer]

Just curious--what was the wage proposal that was not decent?

[kitcat51]

It's my understanding they make $30.00 an hour currently, the rejected offer offer was a 5 to 6% immediate raise.There are plently of workers arriving that would be thrilled with those wages.

[QVCkitty1]

Their job, their business. Experienced workers are worth a wage increase.

[nana59]

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@kitcat51 wrote:

It's my understanding they make $30.00 an hour currently, the rejected offer offer was a 5 to 6% immediate raise.There are plently of workers arriving that would be thrilled with those wages.

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arriving......with experience?

[Mom2Dogs]

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@nana59 wrote:

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@kitcat51 wrote:

It's my understanding they make $30.00 an hour currently, the rejected offer offer was a 5 to 6% immediate raise.There are plently of workers arriving that would be thrilled with those wages.

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arriving......with experience?

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My thoughts exactly!  I think $30.00 an hour with benefits would be a decent salary.  Trying being self employed, finding and paying your own insurance.

[Sweetbay magnolia]

So go work for John Deere.

[aroc3435]

@Luvsmyfam   Not just an unsatisfactory wage offer is in play.  John Deere wants to set up a two tier system where the new hires will not have a traditional defined benefit pension plan which those already employed in the bargaining unit have.

Management's negotiators were also refusing to improve an incentive program currently in place. 

When a union swallows that kind of pension proposal it inevitably leads to an "us versus them" scenario that eventualy results in younger, new hires after the contract is settled, to feel disposable in terms of being as valued as older members are by the union.  So . . . the Union gets blamed.

That chasm is an old corporate union busting tactic and is often employed by businesses.

The plants were up and running seven days a week during the pandemic.  JD is publicly traded and has nearly $6 Billion in profits currently.

I think corporate needs to sharpen their pencils, open their minds, and to realize the rank and file voted to reject the offer and come up with ideas that don't eliminate the pension plan when they go back to the negotiating table.  They need to bargain in good faith.

The profits they have to disclose by law demonstrate that they have the means to share some of the wealth with their union employees by conntinuing to offer a deecent living wage, health benefits, and a secure, dignified retirement.

I think your father, and other family members, are splendid for walking the line.  This kind of solidarity always helps to win the day when negotiating with an inflexible employer.  

I am sure many other retirees are doing the same if physically able.  The more members on the line and actively bringing it to the surrounding communities the better the chances for an equitable, excellent settlement for all--company included.

aroc3435

Washington, DC

[CrazyDaisy]

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@aroc3435 wrote:

@Luvsmyfam   Not just an unsatisfactory wage offer is in play.  John Deere wants to set up a two tier system where the new hires will not have a traditional defined benefit pension plan which those already employed in the bargaining unit have.

Management's negotiators were also refusing to improve an incentive program currently in place. 

When a union swallows that kind of pension proposal it inevitably leads to an "us versus them" scenario that eventualy results in younger, new hires after the contract is settled, to feel disposable in terms of being as valued as older members are by the union.  So . . . the Union gets blamed.

That chasm is an old corporate union busting tactic and is often employed by businesses.

The plants were up and running seven days a week during the pandemic.  JD is publicly traded and has nearly $6 Billion in profits currently.

I think corporate needs to sharpen their pencils, open their minds, and to realize the rank and file voted to reject the offer and come up with ideas that don't eliminate the pension plan when they go back to the negotiating table.  They need to bargain in good faith.

The profits they have to disclose by law demonstrate that they have the means to share some of the wealth with their union employees by conntinuing to offer a deecent living wage, health benefits, and a secure, dignified retirement.

I think your father, and other family members, are splendid for walking the line.  This kind of solidarity always helps to win the day when negotiating with an inflexible employer.  

I am sure many other retirees are doing the same if physically able.  The more members on the line and actively bringing it to the surrounding communities the better the chances for an equitable, excellent settlement for all--company included.

aroc3435

Washington, DC

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Pension plans are a thing of the past.  Companies have been cashing out and closing down pension plans for decades.  Most are severely underfunded and cannot possibly pay the projected benefits promised for current employees.  By setting up the two tiered system, they are stopping the bleeding.  Hopfully those that have been promised benefits  will get what they are expecting.  Many trade unions have been accepting reduced benefits in their current contracts in order to keep pensions solvent.

[spiderw]

I walked many a picket line when I worked and for more reasons than wages.  Good luck to the workers, I'm with them in spirit!