1986–1987 John Deere strike

1980s United States manufacturing strike October 2021 October 2021 1986–1987 John Deere strike August 23, 1986 – February 1, 1987 (August 23, 1986 February 1, 1987 days) 12:01 a.m. CDT (Initially) 3 facilities in Waterloo and Dubuque, Iowa, and Milan, Illinois (After lockout) 14 facilities located in Iowa, Illinois, Tennessee, Georgia, Colorado and Minnesota Labor contract expiration Disagreement over subsequent contract provisions regarding benefits Proposal not patterned with recent Caterpillar Inc. contract Improved job security, retirement benefits, and cost of living adjustments (UAW) "Cost-of-living and work-rule concessions" (Deere) margin-top:5px Strike action (UAW) Lockout (Deere) Longest strike experienced by Deere & Company Dividends for Deere stock halved Deere fiscal year 1986 finances losses magnified Deere inventory reduced by large amount Strike-ending contract offered increased job security, employee insurance benefits, pension, and profit sharing United Auto Workers Deere & Company Owen Bieber (UAW President) Bill Casstevens (UAW Vice President / Chief Negotiator) Jim Hecker (UAW Representative / Negotiator) Boyd C. Bartlett (President and CEO)While Bartlett announced retirement on August 28, 1986, he maintained the position until March 31, 1987.August 28, 1986 Deere Chief To Retire The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/28/business/deere-chief-to-retire.html October 15, 2021 October 16, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211016000437/https://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/28/business/deere-chief-to-retire.html liveFebruary 26, 1987 Business People; An Executive at Deere Moves Up to President The New York Times https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A176194510/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=c4d66234 October 22, 2021 Bob Shoup (Spokesman) ≈4,300 (authorized striking) ≈8,000 (disputed)The UAW's position was that they were locked-out by Deere. Deere's position was that all workers were striking. WQAD-TV A/V engineer allegedly assaulted The 1986–87 John Deere strike and lockout was a conflict between Deere & Company, more commonly known as John Deere, and its employees. The workers, unionized as part of the United Auto Workers, began selective strikes at three Deere facilities on August 23, 1986. The selective strikes prompted Deere to close the rest of the facilities under the same labor contract as the original three striking locales, which the UAW, and later The New York Times, called a lockout. On February 1, 1987, workers ratified a tentative agreement which provided stronger benefits to Deere production employees. The conflict was the longest strike ever against Deere, lasting 163 days, or more than five months. UAW Deere employees would not strike again until the 2021 John Deere strike began on October 14, 2021, 35 years later.Jett Tyler October 14, 2021 United Auto Workers on strike at John Deere for first time in 35 years after rejecting proposed contract https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2021/10/14/strike-begins-deere-after-workers-reject-contract-90-margin/8449187002/ live 2021-10-18 USA TODAY en-US October 15, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211015233526/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2021/10/14/strike-begins-deere-after-workers-reject-contract-90-margin/8449187002/ Background At the time of dispute, the 1980s Farm Crisis ( Farm Depression) was occurring. Deere had been experiencing what The New York Times called "heavy losses" for years. As Bob Shoup, Deere's spokesman, said of the union's initial proposals, "They wanted more, and we had no more to give. Our business is off for six years in a row now". Shoup said in December 1986 that Deere's economic issues were present in 1982 and 1983. In August 1986, Jerome K. Green, President of Case IH, one of Deere's competitors, declared "The farm equipment market will bottom out in 1986, and there are some good things going on that will make 1987 begin to turn up."Phillips Steven August 14, 1986 Tractor slump seen ending The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/14/business/tractor-slump-seen-ending.html October 28, 2021 Deere's fiscal 3rd Quarter for 1986, which ended July 31, reported a loss of $39.6 million (US 39600000 1986 -5 eq US$).August 21, 1986 Loss at Deere On Sales Drop The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/21/business/loss-at-deere-on-sales-drop.html October 28, 2021August 20, 1986 Deere & Company reports earnings for Qtr to July 31 The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/20/business/deere-company-reports-earnings-for-qtr-to-july-31.html October 28, 2021 Pre-strike negotiations and extensions UAW and Deere began negotiations for a subsequent contract early in 1986 on April 7; negotiations lasted April 7, 1986 August 22, 1986 days. The contract officially expired June 1, however contract extensions were agreed upon pushing the date of expiration first to June 27 and second to October 17. The Deere workforce at the time of negotiation was 22,000 wage workers (12,000 active, 10,000 laid-off) and represented workers at facilities in Iowa, Illinois, Tennessee, Georgia, Colorado and Minnesota. According to Deere, the average wage was US$14.85 per hour (US 14.85 1986 2 eq US$).Boshart Rod August 23, 1986 UAW workers strike against Deere United Press International https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A446331639/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=62f4367c October 14, 2021 October 22, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211022183833/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALEA446331639&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=62f4367c liveBoshart Rod August 23, 1986 Pickets go up at three Deere sites United Press International https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A446331632/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=4be9b413 October 15, 2021 October 18, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211018023213/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA446331632&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=4be9b413 live Course of the dispute August 1986 On Saturday, August 23, 1986, at 12:01 a.m., a selective/partial strike of about 4,300 unionized Deere & Company employees (reflecting the respective sum of 565, 3,033, and 715 of the UAW Locals 838, 94, and 74) began striking at Waterloo (foundry) and Dubuque, Iowa (industrial equipment production) and Milan, Illinois (parts distribution), respectively. UAW Vice President Bill Casstevens, one of the contract negotiators, speaking of the motivations for the strike said, "The major issues are still job security, adequate improvements in the pension and the company's attempt to emasculate our cost-of-living provisions." Casstevens stated the three plants were selected "for strategic reasons". Deere workers represented by 11 other Locals totaling around 8,000 were told to still report to work despite an expired, extended contract. Bob Shoup, spokesman for Deere, spoke of the strike saying "Deere and Co. is very disappointed that the union chose to strike, especially after so many months of attempting to arrive at an equitable new labor agreement".Boshart Rod September 8, 1986 More than 4,300 striking Deere & Co. workers linedup... United Press International https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A446302511/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=a8137413 October 14, 2021 October 18, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211018023241/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA446302511&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=a8137413 live On Monday, August 25, Deere & Company stopped production at the 11 other facilities covered under the union contract. Deere spokesman Bob Shoup said "Deere & Company considers the union's decision to strike three of its facilities as a strike against all Deere factories under the U.A.W. master agreement". The UAW released a statement declaring the company's action a lockout saying "If the members arrive at work and the company locks them out, the U.A.W. will consider this a lockout and the members are then instructed to apply for unemployment benefits." Shoup stated Deere did not consider the action a lockout.August 25, 1986 Around The Nation; Work at 11 Deere Plants Halted After 3 Are Struck The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/25/us/around-the-nation-work-at-11-deere-plants-halted-after-3-are-struck.html October 15, 2021 May 24, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150524193442/http://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/25/us/around-the-nation-work-at-11-deere-plants-halted-after-3-are-struck.html live Deere employees who were salaried or wage employees for other/no unions continued to work after the shutdown.August 26, 1986 Strike prompts Deere production halt The New York Times https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A176334003/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=dd65909b October 15, 2021 October 18, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211018023219/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA176334003&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=dd65909b live Following the lockout, the UAW instructed the 8,000 workers who weren't part of the original 4300 authorized to strike to file for unemployment benefits. The 4,300 workers authorized to strike received weekly strike pay from the UAW of $100 (US 100 1986 0 eq US$). The 8,000 workers were offered $100 interest-free loans from the UAW in lieu of strike pay. All workers were asked to contribute to a newspaper advertising campaign in support of workers. UAW Local 434 President Bob Bowling stated the campaign was a reaction designed to counter Deere's press appearances regarding the dispute.September 17, 1986 Union launching media offensive in Deere dispute United Press International https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A446290198/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=cdc48027 October 15, 2021 October 18, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211018023308/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA446290198&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=cdc48027 live September 1986 On Tuesday, September 2, the UAW alleged that Deere was delaying negotiations to allow itself to sell off inventory saying "Management's approach to these negotiations appears to have been designed to avoid reaching an agreement and forcing us into a protracted strike, all in a misguided effort not only to pressure your union into accepting a substandard agreement but to reduce swollen inventories of unsold equipment ... something which management has repeatedly assured us it would not do." Deere denied the allegation. The same day, Deere also did not allow 850 Ottumwa Works employees, who had been temporarily laid-off on a routine summer production shutdown, to return to work.Boshart Rod September 2, 1986 Union claims Deere wanted strike to cut inventory United Press International https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A446323756/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=e42cbeaa October 15, 2021 October 18, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211018023223/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA446323756&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=e42cbeaa live On Wednesday, September 3, the UAW authorized 48 members of the UAW Local 1710 working at a Deere parts distributor in East Moline, Illinois to strike as well, however did not authorize 1710 members assigned to other Deere facilities.Boshart Rod September 4, 1986 Deere-UAW dispute widens United Press International https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A446324403/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=30c679c4 October 15, 2021 October 18, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211018023214/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA446324403&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=30c679c4 live On Tuesday, September 23, unemployment officials in Iowa and Illinois sided with Deere's position to consider all 8000 workers as striking for the purposes of unemployment and denied their claims. Deere spokesman Bob Shoup made a statement saying "The company regrets the circumstance, mainly the unnecessary strike. The employment compensation agency really had no other choice". The UAW made no comment on the decision.September 23, 1986 Deere workers denied jobless benefits United Press International https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A446278072/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=75e40331 October 15, 2021 October 18, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211018023244/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA446278072&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=75e40331 live Unemployment coverage for the UAW workers was an issue which affected the 1986 Illinois gubernatorial election. At an unknown time during the strike, WQAD-TV (known as "News 8"), a local news station in Moline, Illinois, reported one of their audiovisual engineers was allegedly assaulted by three union members who pushed them to the ground. Archival footage shows police warning off news media from a picket line of UAW Local 79 members. The engineers were unable to identify their alleged assailants to police.September 29, 2021 Timeline: A look at the 1986 John Deere / UAW strike and the current negotiations https://www.wqad.com/article/life/people/john-deere-and-company-strike-timeline/526-83d1325f-7ca0-45d2-be19-e8671c6a0f77 2021-10-15 WQAD-TV en-US October 15, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211015231835/https://www.wqad.com/article/life/people/john-deere-and-company-strike-timeline/526-83d1325f-7ca0-45d2-be19-e8671c6a0f77 livehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUt_zuyVYnw UAW Strike of John Deere 1986 September 29, 2021 Minor Chris News Broadcast en-US WQAD-TV 1986 October 1986 By the week of October 5, the seventh week of strike, communication between the UAW and Deere had been minimal. Winston Williams, writing for The New York Times, saw Deere's behavior as part of a pattern of corporate lockouts to "force further concessions from giveback-weary unions" citing lockouts and lockout threats affecting previously implacable unions such as the United Steelworkers, the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers International Union, Transport Workers Union of America, and the International Longshoremen's Association around the same time period. Williams also saw the UAW as surprised by Deere's "newfound feistiness", quoting UAW Vice President, Administration John Collins saying, "What do you do? You can't control the actions of management."Williams Winston October 5, 1986 Business brings back the lockout The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1986/10/05/business/business-brings-back-the-lockout.html October 19, 2021 October 22, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211022183833/https://www.nytimes.com/1986/10/05/business/business-brings-back-the-lockout.html live At 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 28, UAW and Deere representatives reopened negotiations after discussing rules and scheduling the previous day. There had been no communication or negotiation since the strike began. Karl Mantyla, a UAW official, stated information about negotiations would be minimal saying "In terms of substantive information from the negotiating sessions, there just won't be any, I think both sides are going to try to confine activities to the bargaining table".October 28, 1986 The United Auto Workers and Deere & Co. officials... United Press International https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A446214323/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=7ab18657 October 15, 2021 October 18, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211018023255/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA446214323&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=7ab18657 live November 1986 On Friday, November 21, the UAW indefinitely recessed negotiations with Deere citing a complete lack of understanding by the company in the 26 days. UAW official Bill Casstevens said the union found "no meaningful progress toward an equitable settlement", and accused the company of bad-faith negotiations saying "It is now apparent that Deere's request to resume negotiations, and a recent letter sent to Deere employees, amounted to nothing more than a cruel public relations ploy by the company". Deere spokesman Bob Shoup said "'Deere & Co. deeply regrets the union decision to end negotiations for a new contract. In the end, the stumbling block was the cost to the company of the union's current demands." Deere had also proposed a further contract extension to February 27, 1987, which the union rejected.Boshart Rod November 21, 1986 Deere talks recessed indefinitely United Press International https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A446172030/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=3da4900c October 15, 2021 October 18, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211018023244/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA446172030&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=3da4900c live On Wednesday, November 26, Deere proposed reopening negotiations with the UAW by the beginning of December. The company offered what Deere spokesman Bob Shoup called a "comprehensive new contract proposal", and wished the union to review it. The UAW first learned of the new proposal through the news media, a fact Jim Hecker, UAW representative and negotiator, lamented saying "I don't appreciate that" but despite that the union was "ready, willing and able to meet with (the company) all weekend if that's what it takes".November 27, 1986 Deere asks union to resume talks United Press International https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A446153455/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=a289bc54 October 18, 2021 October 22, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211022183834/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALEA446153455&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=a289bc54 live That Friday, November 28, the UAW stated they would examine the proposal before agreeing to talks. The UAW's Jim Hecker stated, "A settlement needs to be within the perimeters of the most recent settlement with Caterpillar, and the company has stated its willing to do that. This proposal does not show that interest on their part, so I don't know what the company's up to". Deere's Bob Shoup stated the company's offer was sincere.November 28, 1986 UAW studies latest Deere offer United Press International https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A446153792/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=da709c87 October 18, 2021 October 22, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211022183836/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALEA446153792&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=da709c87 live December 1986 A two-hour negotiation session on Wednesday, December 3 between the UAW and Deere resulted in another suspension of negotiations as both sides found the other immovable: Deere saying the UAW's proposal was "totally incomprehensible" and the UAW, in the words of Bill Casstevens, called Deere's proposal "woefully inadequate to meet the needs of our members".Boshart Rod December 4, 1986 Deere talks end with autoworkers United Press International https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A446143536/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=347cddc1 October 18, 2021 October 22, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211022183836/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALEA446143536&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=347cddc1 live The next day on Thursday, December 4, an estimated 700 striking UAW members held a peaceful mock funeral at Deere company headquarters in Moline, Illinois. One worker's sign epitomized the mood of the event reading, "Your trust was buried here today. Your team work is a flop. If your ship is sinking, it's because it is leaking from the top". UAW Local 94 (Dubuque, Iowa) president Pat Dillon told the assembled workers "The mutual relationship between Deere and Company and the union has been non-existent the last four months. They reap what they sow". The demonstration involved a hearse, coffin, pallbearers, the bugling of Taps, headstone reading "RIP UAW-JD team work", and a Christmas tree covered in worker's John Deere hats. Upon laying the symbolic coffin to rest, workers proceeded to burn the coffin and tree, loudly crying, "the winning team has just gone up in smoke", before planting fourteen white crosses representing the elapsed weeks of conflict. The Rock Island County deputy sheriffs and Illinois State Police observed alongside Deere's private security without interacting.Boshart Rod December 4, 1986 Idled UAW workers trust in Deere 'dies' United Press International https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A446143445/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=b858e672 October 18, 2021 October 22, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211022183835/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALEA446143445&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=b858e672 liveBoshart Rod December 4, 1986 Idled UAW workers 'bury' Deere cooperation United Press International https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A446143550/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=a808eef9 October 18, 2021 October 22, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211022183837/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALEA446143550&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=a808eef9 live On Wednesday, December 10, Deere's fiscal year 1986 financials were released showing a loss of $229.3 million (US 229300000 1987 -5 eq US$), its first year reporting a loss since 1933 during the Great Depression. Most of the financial losses were experienced during the 4th Quarter, which ended on October 31, during which North American sales decreased 37 percent. The company stated most of the losses were due to the strike and attributed $139.7 million (US 139700000 1987 -5 eq US$) due to it. However, losses were also due to the ongoing 1980s Farm Crisis. In comparison, in 1985, the company had profited $30.5 million (US 30500000 1987 -5 eq US$). Company inventory decreased significantly due to both the strike and sales losses, and Deere declared the inventory reductions would endure into 1987.December 10, 1986 Deere shows first loss since the Depression Globe & Mail https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A165325410/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=cb142aae October 16, 2021 October 18, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211018023244/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA165325410&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=cb142aae live The UAW had previously accused the company of using the strike to reduce inventory in September . The day after on Thursday, December 11, Deere's Board of Directors reduced stock dividends from 12.5₵ to 6.25₵ per share. The same day, the strike, at 111 days in length, became the longest the company had ever endured, a record Jim Hecker, a UAW representative, called "a dubious honor". The previous record was a 1950 dispute also involving the UAW. The same day, Deere's Board allowed UAW officials, most notably Bill Casstevens, to present directly to them in a private session lasting 50 minutes. Casstevens reported, "The board was very courteous, they listened very attentively to our presentation. They asked questions to make sure they understood our position. ... We went in there to make sure they knew exactly where the union stood on this proposal because we have believed for a long time now that company negotiators have been making worst case scenarios out of all of our proposals". Casstevens also stated that Deere was profiting in 1982-3 while competitor Caterpillar Inc. was experiencing losses, to which Deere spokesman Bob Shoup stated the 1980s Farm Crisis was ongoing when the current, expired contract was being developed in 1982 and signed in 1983.Boshart Rod December 11, 1986 UAW strike Deere's longest United Press International https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A446138931/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=91c70fb7 October 16, 2021 October 18, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211018023225/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA446138931&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=91c70fb7 live Early 1987 and strike end On Monday, January 26, 1987, a state court ordered the resumption of negotiations between the UAW and Deere. The following day, a tentative agreement was announced after a seven-hour mediatedMediator was W.J. Usery session of negotiations. The agreement had potential to end the strike pending ratification by a union member vote, which was scheduled to take place the following weekend. Deere spokesman Bob Shoup stated the company was "very pleased" with the agreement, but that the strike had injured company-union relations, which he said would require "a little time to heal, and they will".Noble Kenneth B. January 29, 1987 U.A.W. reaches a tentative pact with Deere The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/29/us/uaw-reaches-a-tentative-pact-with-deere.html October 17, 2021 November 7, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20171107221145/http://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/29/us/uaw-reaches-a-tentative-pact-with-deere.html liveJanuary 29, 1987 Deere, union reach deal to end strike Globe & Mail Reuters https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A165280458/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=1c3d85fd October 17, 2021 October 18, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211018023232/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA165280458&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=1c3d85fd live On Sunday, February 1, the tentative agreement, a 20-month contract, was ratified with the support of 84 percent of the 10,651 UAW member votes ending the strike. only being rejected by UAW Locals 434 and 1710 in Moline and Milan, Illinois, respectively, who felt the job security provisions were substandard and allowed for slower, gradual job loss through consolidation or deprecation. The contract, based on a UAW contract with Caterpillar Inc., included job security for 90 percent of employees, health and life insurance, retirement pension, profit sharing, maintained cost-of-living adjustments, and a one-time payment of $735 (US 735 1987 -1 eq US$). However, it did not change general wage rates.Boshart Rod February 2, 1987 Deere union employees return to work United Press International https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A446027961/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=640461e6 October 17, 2021 October 18, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211018023256/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA446027961&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=640461e6 liveFebruary 3, 1987 Deere union employees return to work United Press International https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A446028462/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=b2870afb October 17, 2021 October 18, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211018023257/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA446028462&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=b2870afb live On February 2, approximately 9,250Source said roughly 75% of 12,300 active workers, this is just a simple computation of this for clarity. active UAW members returned to Deere facilities, some overnight shifts as early as midnight. Deere spokesman Bob Shoup said the company believed production would be back to normal "in a matter of a couple weeks". Jim Hecker, UAW spokesman, stated regarding the strike ending, "I'm glad it's doneget everybody back to work and get things settled back down. It's going to take a while for everything to settle down, but we'll just have to work through it." The strike, the longest in Deere's history, lasted 163 days. The same day, Deere began recalling or planning to recall laid-off workers across the Midwest, 600 in Waterloo, Iowa and nearly 400 in the Quad Cities area. Deere's salaried workers expressed relief, as they had been required to work jobs during the strike previously done by the UAW workers. Workers lost a maximum of $10,000 (US 10000 1987 -2 eq US$) in foregone wages during the strike. Shearson-American Express estimated the economic losses in the Quad Cities area to be about $40 million (US 40000000 1987 -5 eq US$) with a larger economic effect of at least $100 million (US 100000000 1987 -6 eq US$).Boshart Rod January 29, 1987 Strike-lockout costs high United Press International https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A446045160/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=c4d645f1 October 17, 2021 October 18, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211018023255/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA446045160&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=c4d645f1 live On March 12, 1987, an Associated Press article published in The New York Times tied the recently resolved Deere dispute, which it called a "combination strike and lockout", with a month-long strike at the American Telephone and Telegraph Company and a six-month lockout by USX Corporation of the United Steelworkers of America. The Times wrote, "In all three cases, the companies were demanding further wage and benefit cuts, elimination of annual cost-of-living adjustments, or an end to restrictions on their ability to farm out work to nonunion suppliers". Prof. Leo Troy, an economics professor at Rutgers University, told the Times that the concession-weary unions faced a struggle given the economic conditions at the time.March 12, 1987 Strikes and lockouts in U.S. now on the rise The New York Times Associated Press https://www.nytimes.com/1987/03/12/us/strikes-and-lockouts-in-us-now-on-the-rise.html November 4, 2021 Notes References expanded Category:1980s strikes in the United States Category:1986 labor disputes and strikes Category:1987 labor disputes and strikes Category:Labor disputes led by the United Auto Workers Category:Manufacturing industry labor disputes in the United States Category:John Deere John Deere