John Deere manufacturing worker contracts at a dozen different facilities on both sides of the river ran out Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at midnight, but the United Autoworkers Union and John Deere have come to a tentative agreement.
12 Deere facilities were covered by the six-year agreement that expired at the end of September, according to John Deere spokesman Ken Golden. The UAW represents about 10,000 Deere employees in Iowa, Illinois and Kansas.
"The tentative agreement is for six years and will now be presented to members for a ratification vote. Other terms of the agreement will not be made public," said a statement posted online by John Deere.
The deal replaces the master agreement that just expired.
Iowa locations covered by the new agreement include the employees at facilities in Davenport, Ankeny, Dubuque, Ottumwa, and Waterloo. Illinois locations covered by the agreement include the harvester works plant 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 new agreement. A separate agreement was also being negotiated that covered 110 UAW employees at Deere facilities in Denver and Atlanta.
"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, back in August.