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Union rep: CNH, UAW back at negotiating table amid four-month-long strike

More than 1,000 members of the United Auto Workers union at CNH plants in Burlington and Wisconsin have been on strike since May 2.

BURLINGTON, Iowa — A union representative from UAW Local 807 told News 8 on Tuesday CNH and union leadership are back at the negotiating table this week.

About 430 members of the United Auto Workers union at the CNH Industrial plant in Burlington on May 2 went on strike in search of a better deal with the agriculture and construction equipment company. Another 600 members at a CNH plant in Racine, Wisconsin are also on strike.

It marks the largest walkout in Iowa since UAW members working at John Deere went on strike for 35 days last fall.

Negotiations on a new deal have been on and off throughout the four and a half months.

CNH offered union leadership a deal in late May, which included an 18.5% wage increase over three years, but the bargaining team didn't feel like it would cover the cost of inflation.

"Better starting wages, better insurance, maybe a cost of living would be nice. Schedule, we were working way too many hours," 12-year CNH employee Tyler Brobston said. "I've been here for over 10 years and we get two weeks vacation. I've been maxed out on my pay for several years now. There's no way to make any more money on this contract, so hopefully, they get something figured out this go around."

Back in May, Brobston thought the strike would only last a few weeks, not imagining it would still be happening 142 days later.

Workers tell News 8 negotiations are taking place in Burlington this week.

"Think rumors are they are getting closer, and they actually came to us this time, so hopefully that's good news," Brobston said. "I'm assuming at least a couple more weeks but hopefully not too much more than that. A lot of us need to get back to work."

News 8 reached out to CNH for comment on the ongoing strike and where negotiations stand but have yet to hear back.

The last time CNH employees went on strike was in May 2004.

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