Deere and union reach tentative deal on Friday

MOLINE, Ill. (KWQC) – Deere & Co. and the United Auto, Aerospace and Agricultural Equipment Workers’ Union of America have reached a tentative agreement on a new six-year labor agreement, the company announced in a press release.

The contract will cover about 10,100 production and maintenance workers at 12 facilities in Iowa, Illinois and Kansas, the statement said.

Deere and the UAW also reached agreement in principle on a new six-year labor agreement covering nearly 100 production and maintenance employees at Deere parts facilities in Denver and Atlanta.

“After six weeks of negotiations, John Deere and the UAW have reached a tentative agreement that honors the enormous contributions of John Deere production and maintenance employees and lays a solid foundation for our common success going forward,” Brad Morris, vice president of labor relations for Deere & Company, said. “With this agreement, John Deere reinforces our long-standing commitment to providing employees with the opportunity to earn the highest wages and the most comprehensive benefits in the agriculture and construction industries.

Deere production and maintenance employees will have time to review the terms of the tentative agreement before a ratification vote. All Deere operations will continue as planned, the statement said.

UAW Local 281 said in a Facebook post that an October 10 ratification vote was still scheduled for Friday.

Deere and the union voted early Friday to extend the contract as they continued to negotiate.

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