Contract Talk

CIPP is an overcomplicated pay system. It puts the burden of the Boss's mismanagement on us as workers. Obligating workers on the shop floor to constantly correct managements mistakes and compensating for the company's failures. A burden that is often placed at our feet and tied directly to our earnings through CIPP. Inaccurate and incomplete standards, unrealistic production schedules, parts availability, failed seeding plans, and the list goes on. 

What if we fought for something better? A straight-pay structure that isn't divisive, that doesn't pit union members against one another, that doesn't tie our earnings to management's mistakes and production problems that are far beyond our control. Should we rid ourselves of the countless negative, anti-union aspects of CIPP and decide together where negotiations on dollar amounts should start when bargaining for the value of our labor in a restructured pay system? 

This anti-union tactic is much more insidious than many members realize.

NTA's allow the company to operate outside of our contractual agreement and circumvent the fundamental concept of seniority, but it does more than that.

This 'grey area' in our bargaining agreement allows the company the ability to put their arm around members who are often viewed as trusted and respected shop floor leaders within our natural work groups and entice them with a company-friendly role that comes with better pay, custom hours, and freedom from earnings being negatively impacted by the company's mismanaged daily production. 

This unchecked, anti-union, corporate strategy allows the company to create division among our membership and influence a number of our elected leaders who currently hold NTA's. 

CLICK HERE to share contract loopholes, deficits, gaps, and weak language

With a company as profitable as John Deere, building the tractors that make the brand with union labor in the U.S., is non-negotiable. We must safeguard our jobs and our communities. Plant closing moratoriums are vitally important, but that alone is not enough to stop the outsourcing of our livelihoods one piece at a time.