Deere & Company employees reject contract agreement

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John Deere 8 Series

The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) informed Deere & Company Monday that its production and maintenance employees have voted to reject the tentative collective bargaining agreements that would have covered more than 10,000 workers at 14 facilities across the United States.

"After weeks of negotiations, John Deere reached tentative agreements with the UAW that would have made the best wages and most comprehensive benefits in our industries significantly better for our employees," says Brad Morris, vice president of labor relations for Deere & Company. "John Deere remains fully committed to continuing the collective bargaining process in an effort to better understand our employees' viewpoints." 

Deere & Company began negotiations toward a labor agreement in August. A tentative agreement was reached on Oct. 1 on a new six-year master labor agreement. Morris said at the time the tentative agreement honored "the enormous contributions of John Deere's production and maintenance employees and builds a strong foundation for our shared success in the future."

In the meantime, he says John Deere operations will continue as normal.