John Deere workers end strike, agrees to new contract with hefty raises

Deere & Co. workers approved a new contract on Wednesday that will deliver 10% raises immediately and will end a month-long strike by more than 10,000 employees. The United Auto Workers union said that 61% of its members approved the new deal with their third vote, even though this contract was strikingly similar to the one that 55% of workers rejected two weeks ago. Deere workers and workers from many other unions have been emboldened to ask for more this year due to the ongoing worker shortage in the country and also because workers didn't always feel appreciated while working long hours during the pandemic. 

The latest proposal has only made modest changes to Deere's internal incentive pay plan and it covers 12 plants in Iowa, Illinois, and Kansas where the company's John Deere green agricultural and construction equipment is made. The company also said that work will resume on Wednesday night. After the last vote on November 2nd, the company told the union to not expect any more money and Deere largely stuck to that promise in its latest proposal. Deere workers have been on strike since October 14 and in recent weeks have had to endure the cold weather along the picket lines while trying to get on by the union's $275 in weekly strike pay or by finding another job.

Source: CBS News