Thousands of workers took to the picket lines on Oct. 14, 2021, as the 34-day strike began. Today, what pieces of its legacy remain, and what’s different? News Channel 8 speaks with Dr. Michael Childers…
“There’s no question that the socioeconomic environment has definitely changed,” Childers said. “Those workers in 2021 were sort of the lead workers in the UAW who pushed companies for more equity. That helped set the stage for the Big Three automaker strikes, where workers won back many of the things they’d given up when times were leaner…”
“A lot of those Deere workers were saying, ‘We just want to get back to the benefits our parents had when they worked here,’” Childers said. “That really resonated, and it became part of the battle cry for the UAW more broadly.”
WQAD News Channel 8 | 4 years on from the John Deere strike: How have labor relations changed?
Interviews: Dr. Michael Childers