Statewide Iowa — Iowa Federation of Labor AFL-CIO president Charlie Wishman says the pandemic has changed the way workers think about their jobs.
Wishman says it was no surprise members of the United Auto Workers turned down John Deere’s contract offer.
He says John Deere workers are drawing a line in the sand for themselves and future workers.
Paul Iversen is a labor educator at the University of Iowa Labor Center. He says the two-tiered system the union’s striking over doesn’t provide the same level of pay and benefits to every worker.
Iversen says in a tight labor market, striking workers appear to have more leverage.
The Iowa Federation of Labor’s president says it’s not just union workers who are challenging the status quo.
Wishman and Iverson made their comments this week on the “Iowa Press” program on Iowa PBS. Late Friday, John Deere announced it will continue providing health care benefits to union workers and employees will not lose bonuses they earned before the strike started October 14th. The bonuses are paid for exceeding performance goals.
The union would have had to start providing health care to striking workers, but the benefits would not have been the same as the plans Deere employees have now. A spokeswoman for the company said Deere and Company is taking these steps to demonstrate its commitment to doing what’s right by John Deere employees. Contract negotiations continue.
