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Striking John Deere Worker Hit and Killed by Car as He Joined Picket Line

HeadlineOct 28, 2021

In labor news, a striking John Deere worker was fatally struck by a car Wednesday as he crossed a street to join a picket line outside a warehouse in Milan, Illinois. Fifty-six-year-old Richard Rich was pronounced dead at the scene. The local police chief said he did not believe the driver intended to hit Rich.

This comes after The Intercept reported John Deere managers are working to suppress stories about accidents caused by nonunion strikebreakers. The Intercept says company executives are concerned about “reputational risk” on social media and have instructed employees that accident reports are “confidential” and must not be shared with the public.

Some 10,000 John Deere workers have been on strike since mid-October to demand equitable pay and benefits as their company reports record profits.

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