UAW Auto & Equipment Workers
Union locals: UAW Local 838 (John Deere Waterloo) · Local 450 (John Deere Ankeny/Des Moines) · Local 94 (John Deere Dubuque)
How UAW Auto & Equipment Workers Were Exposed to Asbestos
During normal duties, UAW Auto & Equipment Workers were routinely exposed to asbestos-containing materials in Iowa industrial, commercial, and public construction work from the 1930s through the 1980s. Documented exposure pathways drawn from public litigation records and industrial hygiene literature include:
- Grinding and arc-grinding asbestos brake linings at John Deere Waterloo Foundry and Ankeny Works
- Handling asbestos clutch facings and transmission friction parts on tractor/combine assembly
- Casting work with asbestos-containing refractory and core binders at Deere foundries
- Bystander exposure to insulation work on plant utility piping
- Cleanup duties with airborne fiber in stamping and paint shops
Why This Matters for Iowa Workers
If you worked as an uaw auto & equipment workers in Iowa during the asbestos era and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, or pleural disease, you may have a legal claim — even if your employer is no longer in business. Many asbestos product manufacturers have established bankruptcy trust funds that continue to pay qualified claimants based on documented exposure history.
Iowa Filing Deadlines — Two Separate Clocks
Iowa keeps the personal-injury clock (Iowa Code § 614.1(2) — 2 years from diagnosis) and the wrongful-death clock (Iowa Code § 614.1 — 2 years from date of death) on separate, independent tracks. Preserving one does not extend the other. An experienced Iowa asbestos attorney can keep both options open as your situation evolves.
Talk to an Experienced Iowa Asbestos Attorney
A free, confidential consultation with O’Brien Law Firm can evaluate your specific exposure history and filing-deadline situation. No fee unless they recover compensation.
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