Workers at several local facilities are watching closely as John Deere and the United Auto Workers have begun renewal negotiations on a contract that expires at the end of September 2015.
About 10,000 workers at 12 Deere facilities are covered by the current six-year agreement; the agreement expires at midnight September 30, according to John Deere spokesman Ken Golden. Iowa locations covered by the agreement include the Davenport Works, Des Moines Works, Dubuque Works, Ottumwa Works and four facilities in Waterloo. Illinois locations covered by the agreement include the harvester Works in East Moline, the Parts Distribution Center in Milan, and the Seeding Group and Cylinder Division in Moline.
The Coffeyville Works in Kansas is also covered by the agreement. A separate agreement is also being negotiated which covered 110 UAW employees at Deere facilities in Denver and Atlanta.
Starting with today’s handshakes we are committed to work as hard as we can to get an agreement in which our members can be proud of, the company can feel good about and our customers can continue to reap the benefits of UAW-made quality products,” said UAW Vice President Norwood Jewell, who directs the union's Agricultural Implement Department, in a statement from the UAW about the negotiations.
"In the last year, we have gone through some tough times. But we know from history that these times are cyclical. And we know from history that the key to a good contract is one in which UAW members prosper, John Deere prospers and customers prosper with our products," said UAW President Dennis Williams.
Both sides agreed not to comment publicly about the contract issues while negotiations are underway.
The current agreement includes a "commitment from Deere that no plants will close during the life of the agreement," according to the UAW.