The strikers are victorious! Now that the contract is ratified and we have stopped fundraising, we are writing with a final update about the solidarity fund. But first, thank you for your solidarity. It has meant a lot to us and to thousands of UAW members on strike at Deere who have used these funds. Here is a summary of what we’ve done with the $160,459 funds raised through GoFundMe (and an additional $35,550 we raised from Bernie Sanders and several unions).
1) The vast majority of these funds were distributed through our Fareway Grocery Store voucher program in Iowa and Illinois. We have distributed $121,500 through Fareway. Around 2000 Deere workers have used the program, receiving $50 in groceries per visit.
2) In the Quad Cities, UAW members and community supporters are also using funds to purchase and distribute bulk food and essential household goods, in addition to the Fareway program. Over $14,000 in food and goods was purchased and distributed to Deere workers.
3) We have been working separately with workers in Kansas, Georgia and Colorado to distribute $8,000 in funds proportionately allocated to these locals as well.
4) We distributed $2,000 to members of the International Association of Machinists, who walked out alongside UAW members at Deere. They used these funds to purchase groceries for their members.
5) We have distributed $10,000 to the family of a worker who was killed on the picket line. We are planning to make payments to other workers who passed away during the strike as well.
For the funds that remain, we are planning to get them out to workers next week through the Fareway grocery voucher program, as they wait for their first paycheck.
Together, we played a small part in defeating a Fortune 500 company. When we fight, we win. Solidarity forever.