Deere network discusses future strategies

The network discussed the situation in the different countries, especially the question of supply chain interruptions, actual and past collective bargaining in the different regions, countries, and plants.

The core topic of this network was the implementation of better health and safety measures. In addition, the meeting also focused on ways to open a dialogue with the corporate management over the possible terms of future dialogue. The delegates’ discussion revolved around green technologies and the future of heavy machinery in farming and construction, with respect to electrification and/or hybrid systems.

The European delegation reminded other countries that it would be helpful to integrate the countries, in the network, that are not on board yet.

Thomas Weber, administrative assistant, agricultural implement department, and his team informed the network about the latest developments in the USA, at a corporate level, but also about the situation in UAW. They also emphasized what they called the Striketober, the October 2021 strike, when many sites in the USA, namely in Agricultural Implement, especially at Deere, went on strike. Thomas delivered this address on behalf of the network chair, Charles Browning, UAW’s Vice President.

One of the many concerns that attendees had was how high global inflation rates were having an impact on ordinary workers’ purchasing power.

IndustriALL’s assistant general secretary, Christine Olivier, addressed the network, introducing the latest discussions in IndustriALL regarding its position on social dialogue with multinational corporations.

All participants agreed that it is important to further grow this network and that close cooperation with similar USA-located companies, namely Caterpillar and CNH, was instrumental. In addition, the network members proposed that the next network meeting possibly be held in person. Representatives reminded the meeting that all participating trade unions should strengthen the role of women in the sector, within the company, and in the network.

“Our sector, the agricultural implement segment of mechanical engineering, is a showcase of the double challenge that workers and trade unions are facing today: the greening of machinery and equipment as well as the greening of production patterns. This goes hand in hand with digitalization. Both developments require even better networking among the trade unions. We have to coordinate our efforts to make sure that this transition is a just transition. IndustriALL will do its best to pilot our affiliates through these changes,”

says Matthias Hartwich, IndustriALL director of mechanical engineering.

Historic John Deere strike enters second week

The strike started at midnight on Wednesday 13 October, after workers rejected a proposed six-year contract on 10 October. John Deere offered a below inflation pay deal that amounted to a $1-per-hour wage increase for most workers, and eliminated pensions for new hires, at a time when the world’s largest farm equipment company is making record profits. Top management has profited from this development: John Deere's CEO John C. May made $15.6 million in 2020.

Union members say that John Deere's offer was an insult after they made billions for the company in a pandemic. As a popular T-shirt worn by striking workers said,

“Deemed essential in 2020, prove it in 2021. Can’t build it from home.”

UAW president and IndustriALL executive committee member Ray Curry, said:

“UAW John Deere members have worked through the pandemic after the company deemed them essential, to produce the equipment that feeds America, builds America and powers the American economy. These essential UAW workers are showing us all that through the power of a strong united union voice on the picket line they can make a difference for working families here and throughout the country.”

The company is attempting to maintain production by using white-collar workers as scabs, with sometimes disastrous results.

IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie wrote to Curry, saying:

“IndustriALL Global Union rallies behind more than 10,000 UAW John Deere members at 14 facilities in Illinois, Iowa and Kansas. We support your demands for workers at John Deere “to earn a decent living, retire with dignity and establish fair work rules.”

“We call on John Deere to fully consider the legitimate demands of UAW members, as well as recognise the vital contribution and commitment of workers throughout the pandemic to produce essential farming, construction and energy equipment, and agree on negotiating a fair collective agreement concerning, among others, wage gains and enhanced retirement benefits.

“Furthermore, IndustriALL severely condemns any attempt by the company to use scabs in order to undermine social dialogue and negotiations between the company’s management and our affiliate UAW.”

Analysts see the strike as part of a revolt by frontline, essential and production workers who made major sacrifices during the pandemic. The John Deere strike is part of an unprecedented wave of industrial action that is sweeping across many different sectors in the US, that the media has dubbed “Striketober”.

Union activists hope that this strike will be a turning point for the US labour movement, which has been in decline since Ronald Reagan defeated a strike by air traffic controllers in 1981. The 1980s saw the introduction of two-tier contracts that provide worse conditions for new hires. Labour militancy sank to an all-time low after the 2008 financial crisis, when many feared for their jobs.

However, there are increasing signs of workers wanting a new deal after making sacrifices during the pandemic.

Images: Jonah Furman

Global dialogue needed at Deere and Caterpillar

Over 40 delegates from 10 countries convened for joint and individual IndustriALL Global Union meetings from 10 to 12 July to exchange experiences, improve dialogue and develop global solidarity.

The first day was dedicated to the Deere & Co union network, and the company’s Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Marc Howze, introduced Deere’s concept of social relations and strategy.

Deere's Senior VP & Chief Administrative Officer, Marc Howze

Representatives from Deere’s European Works Council shared their experiences of social dialogue on a European level, and delegates adopted a plan to better coordinate their work and strengthen the Deere network. 

IndustriALL director for mechanical engineering, Matthias Hartwich, said:

“We want Deere to create an official dialogue between management and IndustriALL Global Union, preferably with a global framework agreement.”

Ray Curry, the host union UAW’s secretary treasurer and director of the agricultural implement department, opened the second day of the meeting. He said:

“The mechanical sector global networks provide a great opportunity for an exchange with colleagues from various global locations of both companies. The coordination of our trade union efforts provide recognizable assistance to every worker in Deere and Caterpillar. Our ultimate and attainable goal is to improve the working and living conditions for the workers and their families. The UAW will continue to support and drive the efforts to create global solidarity among workers in all agricultural implement, construction and mining machinery sectors.”

UAW's Ray Curry

Speaking at the meeting, IndustriALL’s assistant general secretary, Kemal Özkan, said:

“Trade union networks, like the ones at Deere and Caterpillar, are not a means in themselves; we need them as drivers of better working and living conditions for employees of the respective companies. If companies are willing to enter into dialogue, we are always open. But if they don’t respect fundamental rights of workers, then only remaining option for us to  campaign.”

In the joint meeting of both networks, participants underlined the importance of the exchange of information and experience as there are common issues across borders and across companies. The meeting discussed the opportunities and challenges of digitalization in the mechanical engineering industries, which require strong trade union coordination across the borders if workers are to get a share of wealth.   

At Caterpillar, employees have suffered many setbacks in recent years.  Radical restructuring in the company’s operations resulted in over 10,000 redundancies with several plant closures, showing that exchange and cooperation between trade unions is crucial. Caterpillar European Works Council members described the difficulties in getting proper information and having consultation with company management. Participants expressed their appreciation and commitment for the network newsletter as an important tool of communication. 

At the end of the meeting, attendees agreed to improve communication in-between meetings, which will be determined by the steering committees.     

Matthias Hartwich summarized:

“The issue of communication, that came up time and again in the meetings, is a serious call for us to strengthen the capacity of the trade union networks to interact and exchange information.”

Deere & Co manufactures agricultural, construction, and forestry machinery, employing more than 60,000 workers worldwide.

Caterpillar is the world's largest construction equipment manufacturer with more than 100,000 workers. Both corporations are American.

See more photos of the meeting on flickr. 

Trade union network opens doors at Deere

The global union network was founded in 2012 in Switzerland, and for the first time the network succeeded  have an exchange with top management. It took the affiliates of IndustriALL Global Union, namely the United Auto Workers (UAW), a lot of efforts and discussion to win management’s trust for such a step, showing the company's strong commitment to a further dialogue with its employees and their unions around the world.

The meeting at the headquarter of Deere & Company in Moline, Illinois, USA, started with a farm visit, where the Deere workers were able to see their products in use, and how their work facilitates the work of the final customer, the farmer.

The company provided a guided tour of its facility in Davenport, Iowa, where mostly construction and forestry machinery is assembled. Following the tour, a joint session with senior management and trade unions took place. During this session, Max A. Guinn, John Deere president of worldwide construction and forestry, gave a presentation and answered questions from the unions.

At a joint dinner with management, Samuel R. Allen, company chairman and CEO, joined delegates and spoke about the long lasting process of creating mutual respect and trust between company management and union leadership. He mentioned the long lasting good working relations with soon retiring UAW president Dennis Williams, who also attended the event.

Dennis Williams, said:

“For me to see the success of this network today, in how much it has grown, gives me happiness. Everybody is here, my Brazilian colleagues and other colleagues from around the globe. John Deere is hosting this meeting and I think it will be very successful.”

Matthias Hartwich, IndustriALL director for mechanical engineering said:

“For some companies, squeezing labour is the easiest way to generate profits. These companies think that workers‘ income is always too high and must be lowered, hence they try to keep trade unions out. This is not the case at Deere.

I do hope that we can continue with the process that was initiated this year. Building trust between unions and management is always a long journey, but I think this year we made a huge step forward.”

Participants unanimously demanded that the network should continue its regular annual meetings and expressed their unions' commitment.

Deere and Company is one of the leading multinational companies, producing agricultural, building and forestry machines, with the main brand name of John Deere

Trade union network at John Deere favours social dialogue

Trade unionists from Brazil, Finland, Germany, India, Spain and the United States met to discuss their concerns at the agricultural, construction, and forestry machinery company. While the overall situation at Deere is positive (especially compared to some of its competitors), there is always a need for trade unions to keep informed and prepare for the future.

On 1 June 2017, Deere announced it will acquire the Wirtgen group, a leading German producer of road construction equipment. It will bring approximately 8,000 new employees to the group and change Deere’s industrial footprint. After the integration of the Wirtgen group, Deere will have a stronger presence in the construction machinery sector.

Delegates discussed the consequences of this purchase and stressed the need for further cooperation to ensure the new entity becomes not only part of the company, but also the union-family.

As well as adopting a work plan for the coming year, the trade union network also resolved to approach Deere for meaningful dialogue between trade union organizations and company management in the near future. US union UAW will take the lead in order to verify whether there is also the readiness from company side to enter into social dialogue.

Delegates recognized the need for increasing participation from younger workers and women in unions, with Tim Bressler, UAW network chair, encouraging the participating unions to do more in this area.

Matthias Hartwich, IndustriALL director, summarised the meeting:

Although this is a quite a young network in the mechanical engineering sector, we have made great progress over the last three years. We not only have created a union structure, we also have built the necessary trust among the unions, which is crucial for a meaningful exchange. Now it seems the right time to also reach out to the management in order to offer a fruitful social dialogue on a global level.

John Deere unions meet to strengthen cooperation

Affiliates agreed to take concrete steps to improve collaboration and strengthen the network at the US based, globally active manufacturer of agricultural, construction and forestry machinery.

Participants from India were unable to attend, due to visas difficulties. Finland was also not able to participate, but the Finnish metal union expressed its commitment to the network.

Participants shared information about the challenging economic climate and the state of collective bargaining with John Deere in their countries. United Auto Workers (UAW) representative Tim Bressler, who also chairs the network, gave insight into the American and global market for John Deere products.

As agreed at the previous year’s network meeting, the discussions focused on specific issues, particularly a comparison of the industrial relations systems in the countries present at the meeting. This year, participants looked more deeply into the trade union systems of Spain and Germany. There was also a major focus on Brazil, where a political and economical crisis is the biggest challenge for IndustriALL affiliates in the sector.

Participants reconfirmed the joint working platform – the IndustriALL John Deere Network Guidelines and Principles – adopted the previous year, which defines the objectives of the network. By executing this working platform, the network will work on a further broadening its regional footprint and help trade unions to organize in their respective countries.

UAW vice president Norwood Jewell visited the network and confirmed the commitment of UAW to support and strengthen the network. Tim Bressler (UAW), Torsten Jann (IG Metall) and IndustriALL’s director of mechanical engineering and materials industries, Matthias Hartwich, will take care of the network´s progress and further activities. The network also decided to conduct another physical meeting next year.

Matthias Hartwich, IndustriALL director, confirmed:

“IndustriALL Global Union is highly committed to fostering the John Deere network. It is one of the most important trade union networks in IndustriALL´s mechanical engineering sector. It is important that we stand together and show trade union solidarity within the sector, and also the company specific networks, especially with our struggling brothers and sisters from Brazil and also our dear brothers and sisters in India, although they could not attend this time.

"At the same time, we must do more to encourage women to take an active role in the John Deere network.“  

IndustriALL John Deere Network Meeting

On 4 and 5 September, John Deere union representatives from USA, Brazil, Germany, Spain, Finland and India met in Germany to discuss strengthening their network activities. This involves improving cross border cooperation in order to strengthen trade union positions within the John Deere Group.

During the two days, delegates from the six countries discussed the situation and the future activities of the group, including possible interaction with the European Works Council (EWC), whose annual meeting will take place later this month.

One of the trade union representatives clearly stated:  “As John Deere organizes its activities and strategies on a global level, we as trade unions will also find our answers globally. We are a global family trade unions and trade union members.”

The John Deere trade union network has made good contacts and is in a good position to become fully operational. Participants re-drafted internal guidelines and agreed to organize a regular exchange via standardized questionnaires.

At the end of the network meeting, delegates decided to try to meet again next year together with the already operating Caterpillar network.  

Matthias Hartwich, IndustriALL Director for Mechanical Engineering and Materials Industries says:

“It is crucial to overcome political and company barriers in order to be able to give workers a voice.”

John Deere union network meeting

Participants from three continents started their meeting with an open exchange of  experiences. Some activists had very concrete questions: “How to respond to John Deere’s strategy of making each site “exchangeable” and being able to shift product design and production from one plant to another?”. Others were more interested in a wider perspective.

The meeting brought together very different approaches, and the participants made an enormous progress in the two days of discussions. All participants want to contribute and want to create a network that generates “added value” for all trade unions and all John Deere workers, no matter where they come from and no matter where they live.

The meeting was not only about a simple exchange of information about the situation at John Deere, the union activsits have also committed to work together in the future in order to make the network a success.

UAW (USA) and IG Metall (Germany) will jointly provide all participants with the draft “guidelines” for the network and invite all the participants to contribute. The trade unionists who were present in Geneva also agreed on opening up this network to all interested trade unions organizing workers at John Deere. Hence they installed a “godparenthood” system in  order to be able to cover all continents where John Deere operates.

The priorities for further discussion include occupational safety and health at John Deere, union responses to application of any form of “precarious work” and support for organizing initiatives.