MALC Leaders go to John Deere Picket Line in Iowa

Nathan Kieso (AFSCME 1954) and Tracey Schwerdtfeger (WFNHP 5000), leaders from the MALC Board and the Young Workers Committee, led 2 days of solidarity actions to support John Deere workers currently on strike across the Midwest.  They were able to deliver a donation of food from IBEW 494 and to walk the picket line in Waterloo, Iowa over 2 blustery days last week.  In addition, the Milwaukee Area Labor Council sent a $200 donation to The Support the Strike Fund.

Schwerdtfeger, who traveled with her young son to bring a message of solidarity, noted: “For me it was great to be able to go and see workers standing up against such a large employer.  We are in negotiations right now and it is inspiring to see workers rejecting concessions that are being asked if so many of us across the working class.  I went with two other people from my union and we were inspired to see what workers walking out actually means.  We had a pretty good general conversation and talked about how across sectors we are dealing with greedy employers and staffing, and how pay is a big issue for everyone right now.” 

Kieso reflected on what it was like to travel to Iowa:  “I was proud to go to my home state and to Waterloo, where 3,000 of the 10,000 UAW workers are on strike.  There are Iowans on strike from Dubuque to Council Bluffs, from the banks of the Mississippi to the Missouri. They are walking out to protest unsafe working conditions at the Smithfield plant in Sioux City. They are on strike across the state at John Deere plants to end a deeply unfair, two-tiered wage system and to preserve workers’ stability in retirement through their pensions, which the bosses want to eliminate.  A comment that stuck with me from one of the workers on strike was ‘John Deere doesn’t own us. John Deere just rents us and rent is going up!’  It felt good to be able to deliver food and the message of support from MALC.”

UAW President Ray Curry and UAW Vice President Chuck Browning announced Saturday that the elected national bargaining team at John Deere has reached a tentative agreement and will remain on strike throughout the ratification process.

If you or your union would like to send a donation to the Strike Fund, here is the information:

Make check payable to: International Union, UAW
Please make sure to notate in memo line: "Donation - Deere Strike"

Mail to:
International Union, UAW
Attn: Accounting Department
26300 Northwestern Hwy
Southfield, MI 48076