Some 10,000 unionized Deere & Company workers went on strike early Thursday after rejecting a contract proposal from the agriculture equipment manufacturer.
The big picture: The John Deere tractors maker and negotiators for the United Automobile Workers (UAW) reached a deal on the proposal earlier this month. 90% of union members voted against the agreement, per Reuters.
- The strikers have set up pickets at John Deere's U.S. facilities, according to a UAW statement.
What they're saying: "Our members at John Deere strike for the ability to earn a decent living, retire with dignity and establish fair work rules," said Chuck Browning, vice president and director of the UAW's Agricultural Implement Department in a statement.
- "We stay committed to bargaining until our members' goals are achieved," Browning added.
- Deere said it "remained committed to reaching a new agreement" and it "had not yet estimated when it would complete negotiations," Reuters notes.
