Statement from IEASO President Rachel Clark in support of striking John Deere workers

“The members of the Illinois Education Association Staff Organization (IEASO) stand in solidarity with United Auto Workers (UAW) members who are striking at John Deere locations in Illinois, Iowa and Kansas. We support their efforts to negotiate fair wages and benefits as John Deere takes in record profits this year.

The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare that workers, even those deemed “essential” and across sectors, are struggling to build and maintain stable lives for themselves and their families while employers rake in the gains for the benefit of shareholders and executives. We are all better off when we are all better off, and the bargaining agents, lawyers, lobbyists, communications professionals, technology professionals, paraprofessionals and office staff of IEASO applaud UAW’s efforts to ensure their members’ safety and financial security is protected.”