Union workers at John Deere have rejected a two-year contract extension.
The president of the United Auto Workers, which represents about 10,000 John Deere employees, says the company failed to make an offer that addressed issues weighing on the minds of union members, “especially job security.” John Deere issued a statement, saying an extension of the current contract would have “added stability and certainty to its employees, customers, and business in a challenging environment.” The current contract for John Deere workers extends through October of next year. Negotiations on a new deal will start next fall.
The UAW says John Deere continues to show profits “and workers know their value to the company.” Deere says demand for its products “remains well below 2021 levels” and the outlook for a significant recovery “remains uncertain.” The current union contract for John Deere production workers was approved in 2021 after a 34-day strike by workers at Deere plants in Iowa, Illinois and Kansas.