John Deere, UAW reach tentative agreement

MOLINE, Ill. — John Deere and the United Auto Workers union reached a new tentative agreement more than two weeks after 10,000 workers went on strike, officials said Saturday.

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In a statement, UAW President Ray Curry said union workers would remain on strike throughout the ratification process. More than 10,000 workers went on strike on Oct. 14 after 90% of union members rejected the first tentative agreement four days earlier, CNN reported.

Officials with John Deere, which is headquartered in Moline, Illinois, said the new agreement would run for six years, KCRG reported. The ratification vote is set for Tuesday, the television station reported.

>> John Deere workers on strike after overwhelmingly rejecting new contract

“Our UAW John Deere national bargaining team went back to our local members after the previous tentative agreement and canvassed the concerns and priorities of membership,” Curry said in a statement. “We want to thank the UAW bargaining team and striking UAW members and their families for the sacrifices they have made to achieve these gains. Our members have enjoyed the support of our communities and the entire labor movement nationwide as they have stood together in support and solidarity these past few weeks.”

According to the Lincoln Journal-Star, Jen Hartmann, director for public relations at Deere, posted at one.deere.com that Deere and the UAW “have reached a second tentative agreement on a new six-year labor agreement covering approximately 10,100 production and maintenance employees at 12 facilities in Iowa, Illinois, and Kansas.”

The latest tentative agreement “contains enhanced economic gains and continues to provide the highest quality healthcare benefits in the industry,” according to Chuck Browning, UAW’s vice president and director of the agricultural implement department.

“The negotiators focused on improving the areas of concern identified by our members during our last ratification process,” Browning said in a statement.

John Deere has facilities in Illinois, Iowa and Kansas, KWWL reported. The company and the union have also reached a tentative agreement covering approximately 100 production and maintenance employees at John Deere parts facilities in Atlanta and Denver, the television station reported

The major points of contention centered on compensation and fairness for workers that had different pension plans, CNN reported.

The original rejected agreement would have given workers wage hikes of either 5% or 6%, with an additional 3% pay hike in 2023 and 2025.

Workers said the raises were not enough and that the deal denied a pension for new employees, The New York Times reported.

UAW officials said in a statement Saturday that they would not release details of the agreement until the members at all 12 John Deere locations have the chance to review the terms.

Members were asked to reach out to their local unions for more information, WHBF reported.

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