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John Deere worker strike ends as UAW members accept new contract offer

Date: November 19, 2021 Sunil Jha Sunil Jha
John Deere worker strike ends as UAW members accept new contract offer 
Over 10,000 John Deere workers are expected to end a five-week-long strike and return to work post voting approximately two-to-one in support of a new offer made by the company. The offer is apparently very similar to the one the workers had rejected at the beginning of this November 2021.



The United Auto Workers (UAW) union announced that 61% of members at John Deere voted in favor of the company’s last and best offer.



Sources have reported that both the offers, the one that was rejected at the beginning of this month and the one been accepted, consists of substantial gains for the union members. Both the offers included an $8,500 signing bonus, a 10% immediate raise, and additional 5% increments in the third and fifth year of the proposed six-year contract.



A surplus lump sum payment equal to 3% of pay in years two, four, and six will also be provided. Besides, it also retained a cost-of-living adjustment for protecting the workers from the increases in consumer prices.   



The union stated that the offer which is the subject of this week's vote had modest modifications as compared to the previously rejected tentative agreement.  



The company will supposedly notify the strikers when they are expected to return to work. The deal and the vote have reportedly been appreciated by the leadership at both John Deere and the UAW.   



Expressing his delight on the returning of the employees, John Deere’s CEO John May stated that the company’s success depends on the success of its people. Through the new deal, the company is giving an opportunity to the employees to earn benefits and wages that are best in the industry and are groundbreaking, May added.  



Meanwhile, UAW Vice President Chuck Browning stated that their members’ willingness to strike for attaining a more secure retirement and a better standard of living has led to a groundbreaking contract. It has set a new standard for workers not only within the UAW but across the country.  



Source credits: https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/17/business/john-deere-uaw-strike-vote/index.html

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Sunil Jha

Sunil Jha has been a part of the content industry for close to two years. Having previously worked as a voice over artist and sportswriter, he now focuses on writing articles for newsorigins.com, across a slew of topics, ranging from technology to trade and finance. With a business-oriented educational background, Sunil brings forth the expertise of deep-dive research and a strategic approach in his write ups.