Over 10,000 John Deere union employees are going on strike after failing to conclude a collective bargaining agreement. UAW is stating the the company would not come to an agreement over pay, retirement benefits, and improvements in working conditions for the workers.
“Our members at John Deere strike for the ability to earn a decent living, retire with dignity and establish fair work rules,” said Chuck Browning, Vice President of UAW Agricultural Implement Department.
While the workers are struggling for improvements in their working conditions, John Deere has achieved record profits despite the impact of the pandemic.
“By year’s end, the company had achieved sales and earnings near its original forecast, developed well before the pandemic struck. Profitability, measured by operating return on sales, was the best since 2014…”, said CEO John May in a letter to investors.
While the company rakes in profits they are unable and unwilling to make any concessions to their workers. It is necessary to support the striking workers while also acknowledging the limitations of the trade union struggle. It is imperative that all class-conscious workers study Marxism-Leninism, protect the class interests of the workers, and ultimately end the exploitation inherent to the capitalist mode of production.