More than 10,000 workers at John Deere and Company are now on strike after negotiators couldn’t deliver a new agreement. This includes UAW Local 74 in Ottumwa.  In a statement, The United Auto Workers said “members struck at midnight October 14, after the company failed to present an agreement that met our members’ demands and needs.”  Earlier this week, the vast majority of the union rejected a contract offer that would have delivered 5% raises to some workers and 6% raises to others. Thirty-five years have passed since the last major strike at John Deere, but workers are emboldened to demand more this year after working long hours throughout the pandemic and because companies are facing worker shortages.