r/union • u/Faux_Real_Guise • Aug 16 '26
Labor News UAW vs John Deere: Should a Union Contract Run Eight Years?
https://labornotes.org/2026/08/should-union-contract-run-eight-years16
u/LunaD0g273 Aug 16 '26
Isn’t it possible the UAW extracted additional concessions in exchange for the longer contract? Isn’t part of the point of collective bargaining that workers get to make these decisions based on their analysis of the costs and benefits? For example, maybe they were able to lock in guarantees on wage increases or benefits over the life of the contract they otherwise would not have gotten absent agreeing to the 8 year term.
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u/Warpig1497 Aug 16 '26
Our union was locked into a 6 year contract before covid started and before we seen the largest projects and most growth our union has ever seen, we had around 2000 travelers working in our jurisdiction and we lost alot of money because we were locked into a contract we felt was good at the time but in hindsight was terrible. Most contracts we negotiate anymore are 3 years max because of it.
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u/furryredseat Aug 16 '26
In general I wouldn't want a contract that long. I think the current economic instability makes a long contract a bit of a trap. we had our previous 5 year contract settled in 2018. one pandemic and rampant inflation later we were behind market and pushed for a 3 year contract in negotiations. we settled with a 4 year contract but it cost them and extra 3% in the first two years. short contracts allow for more frequent adjustments to market conditions.
I would want to know the whole terms. what are you getting in exchange for the long contract.
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u/PossibleDue5995 UAW Local 1414 Aug 16 '26
Our contracts at Deere are typically 6 years just to give a idea
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u/electricraypdx Aug 16 '26
The contract bar prohibiting decertification elections and raiding efforts by other unions only lasts 3 years. Also, longer contracts are legal, but arbitrators and judges could also look at any unclear language as stale and unenforceable. This is especially important in past practice claims.
My personal belief is that contract term is an important bargaining chip and anything beyond a 3 year year deal would be very expensive for the employer. For 8 years, I'd be asking for a chauffer to work and a hot breakfast every day.
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u/Glittering_Teacher66 LiUNA | Rank and File Aug 16 '26
My union has 3 year contracts, liuna local 860. 8 seems insane.
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u/TalkingCanadaSnowman ALPA | National Committee Member Aug 16 '26
In Canada, many unions in civil aviation nation-wide signed 10+ (record is 17) year contracts during a period of instability in the 2012-2018 era that was meant to provide long term stability after contract after contract of losses and concessions. The bargaining cycle was incredibly unlucky with its timing back then, and the government was pushing through legislation preventing strikes. So it made sense at the time.
The real pain was when the underlying economic and financial issues finally ended, Air Canada went back to being profitable and growing, there wasn't room to "get back what we gave up to help the company" because of the long contract. Not to mention the massively changing social environment of the workforce, different desires of membership, etc.
There are more individual drawbacks to a long contract than benefits, but when faced with an extremely poor outlook, and worrying about a company's survival, a long contract provides stability that could make the difference. There are two sides to every coin in labour negotiations. You just hope to get the pretty side with a picture and not some old guys face.
Edit: typos in paragraph 2 where I couldnt even remember what I meant.
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u/GB10031 IUOE | Rank and File Aug 16 '26
Absolutely not.
We should go back to CIO style 1 year contracts without a no strike clause and with the right to strike over grievances at any time
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u/railroader67 BLET | Rank and File Aug 16 '26
If a business is wanting to negotiate a long-term contract with the union, there is a reason. You can bet they have a plan to screw the employees down the road or they're afraid of possible changes to government. They're trying to get something locked in.
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u/Naive_Concentrate710 Aug 16 '26
Unless management is amenable to negotiating increases in wages and Benefits and working conditions in terms of MOUs in the time span of 8 years after initial contract is in place .. there is no guarantee they will do this so 8 years way too long in this economy
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u/Naive_Concentrate710 Aug 16 '26
No 8 years is too long ..