john deere - Page 2

FiddleDeeDee · ‎03-06-2020

Sad thing is, just because you are promised a pension when you retire from the company does NOT make it so.

Ask those who worked for the Washington Post for 20 plus years. Ask those who worked for the Baltimore Sun for 20 plus years. They'll tell you...

Promises are worthless. Contracts are worthless. It's just to get you to toe the line.

*Four Seasons once again*

kitcat51 · ‎09-15-2016

@nana59 wrote:
@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.
arriving......with experience?

Of course there are. Do you think those coming here never had a job before? Many simply had their lives destroyed by a socialist fantasy. I'm not saying JD employees don't deserve a raise but be careful what you ask for...I've lived it in another industry so sadly I know what can happen.

aroc3435 · ‎09-30-2010

@FiddleDeeDee What union(s) was/were representing the Washington Post and Baltimore Sun bargaining units. Was it the United Media Guild--I think years ago it was the St. Louis Newspaper Guild. Were the employees who were denied their pensions members of the union(s)?

Had either paper started a two tier system well before the incidents you reference occurred so that 20 plus year bargaining unit veterans wound up without pensions?

There is a gray area, or there used to be, in newspaper union contracts where journalists who THOUGHT they were represented by the Guild WERE, IN FACT, NOT. There was a gray area which ill defined who was, indeed, covered. That was used by management to its advantage.

I know this from living through it first hand with a family member in 1965-66 who had FORTY years of continuous service and was going to be denied a pension.

Gutsy spouse (who had also been an employee but had wisely left fiteen years earlier) of said family member, phoned THE EDITOR of the newspaper in question and informed him that the places of burial for all of its secrets were known and if the person in question was NOT granted the pension that had been earned, all of the dirty little secrets about the hostile takeover many years before, and its dirty political play AFTER the takeover rather than unbiased straight reporting, would be exposed. Said retiree had never been engaged in the dirty doings for the miserable fifteen final years of the forty so was considered "expendable" by the powers that be.

Suddenly the paper's decision was reversed and the retired employee was "granted" the pension.

aroc3435

Washington, DC

Luvsmyfam · ‎11-26-2019

@aroc3435 very well said.yes,I am very proud my family members are walking the picket line.they are standing up to this company,saying we,the union,stand together

Luvsmyfam · ‎11-26-2019

@spiderw I'm high fighing you right now!

Snowpuppy · ‎03-09-2010

@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.

Maybe Southwest can hire them?

There is a reason some folk prefer working in the underground economy. Namely taxes. Taking home 1/2 of what you earn.

Most large employers also require direct deposit. Some folk don't want to deal with a bank. There's also driver's license and insurance people avoid.

$30/hr isn't much anymore. It's median income in the US.

spiderw · ‎06-14-2010

sherrikay

Please forgive me but I am not sure I understand your comment about you being high fighting me now. Please clarify, thanks!!!!!

CalminHeart · ‎03-09-2010

@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

I worked for a huge international corporation for nearly 40 years. They did all these things to employees but there wasn't a union to help protect us. Luckily, I was old enough to retire with my full pension and benefits before the change took place.

Luvsmyfam · ‎11-26-2019

@spiderw forgive my spelling,what I ment was slapping high......high fie! Get it?

KCDiva · ‎03-09-2010

I worked for John Deere in the 80s. I get a small pension from them but it's better than nothing. It was the best company I ever worked for. The benefits and salary were outstanding. I was laid off during one of the many layoffs in the 80s. I cried for many months and had to take a huge cut in pay when finding another job. My ex recently retired from there after 40 years. My sister as well. I'm surprised they only make $30 an hour. Maybe that is the new hires. I'm sure a lot has changed since the good ol' years. I wish them well.