John Deere's Historic Strike

Abstract

For five weeks stretching across October and November, more than 10,000 U.S. John Deere workers withheld their labor in one of the company’s largest and longest strikes. Among the workers’ demands were higher wages, better pensions, and post-retirement health insurance. After two rejected contracts, workers settled on a deal that meets their first two demands but that still leaves them without health care after retirement. This case covers the strike and asks students to discuss it within the context of this year’s labor shortages and a revitalized labor movement.