U.S. Ag Secretary Vilsack visits with striking John Deere workers

(Ankeny, IA) -- Agriculture Secretary and former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack makes a visit to a group of striking John Deere employees this afternoon.

Vilsack told the group of United Auto Workers gathered outside the Ankeny plant that the UAW has long supported him and he wanted to repay that support.

Today marks the seventh day of the strike, the first for Deere workers since 1986. More than 10-thousand John Deere employees at 12 plants walked off the job last Thursday. The UAW and Deere employees have returned to negotiating.