CNH Workers Picketing At Plants In Iowa And Wisconsin

Workers at Case New Holland plants in two states have gone on strike, seeking higher wages.  Close to 1000 members of the United Auto Workers union have begun pickets outside CNH plants in Burlington, Iowa, and Racine, Wisconsin, after the union’s contract with the ag equipment manufacturer expired over the weekend.  The Des Moines Register reports that contract negotiations began in late February and had continued into Monday before they broke down.

A statement from the company says that CNH is, “disappointed that the parties were unable to reach an agreement” but that they continue to work to resolve the issues through further negotiations.  Meanwhile, a UAW spokesperson says that their members, “strike for the ability to earn a decent living, retire with dignity, and to establish fair work rules.”  The strike comes nearly six months after 10,000 workers at 12 John Deere plants launched a strike that lasted five weeks.