Oct 21, 2021 - News

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visits John Deere strikers

Linh Ta

Tom Vilsack meets with a John Deere striker. — Dennis Green (left), a UAW member, speaks with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack at the picket line, Oct. 20. Photo: Linh Ta/Axios

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said he's willing to speak with Deere & Co.'s CEO to make sure he "understands and appreciates" the importance of resolving the historic strike happening at its factories.

Driving the news: Vilsack briefly visited the picket line at the John Deere factory in Ankeny Wednesday.

Why it matters: It's added layer of pressure for Deere leaders to offer a contract union leaders can agree with — this time, from the Biden administration.

What he's saying: Union workers thanked Vilsack for showing up.

"These folks were very supportive of me when I ran for governor," Vilsack said. "It's something that you don't ... forget."

The bottom line: The former Iowa governor said he wants to see the workers earn the wage "they deserve," though he said he didn't know the details of the first offer.

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Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visits John Deere strikers

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