Iowa John Deere Locations Have Terminated Almost 500 Jobs in 2024

In a fairly recent announcement, John Deere's Waterloo facility disclosed plans to lay off over 300 production employees, a figure that was initially reported as 317 but later corrected to 308. These workers, integral to the company's operations, were told by factory leaders of their indefinite layoffs which occurred today April 26th, 2024.

Situated in Waterloo, a city renowned for its diverse population and robust economic landscape, John Deere stands as one of its prominent employers. This announcement prompted concern immediately from Mayor Quentin Hart, who reached out to the company seeking further clarification and assurances regarding support for the affected workforce and community.

This downsizing at John Deere's Waterloo site occurs in unison with a broader trend; the company having previously announced layoffs at its Ankeny location. Economic factors, notably high-interest rates and subdued commodity prices, have been cited by John Deere as contributing reasons for these staffing adjustments.

In response to these announced layoffs, UAW Local 838, representing the impacted workers, sprang into action. They have actively engaged with local organizations, credit unions, and educational institutions like Hawkeye Community College to devise comprehensive support strategies for affected members and their families.

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The cumulative impact of these workforce reductions across John Deere's various locations this year is noteworthy. In addition to the layoffs at the Waterloo facility, the company has also implemented staffing cuts at its Ankeny site. To date, these include 30 job terminations on April 8th, another 30 on April 15th, and an additional 90 across three subsequent dates: April 29th, May 6th, and May 20th, bringing the total to 448 job terminations across Iowa this year already.