UAW workers happy with new six-year Deere contract

UAW workers generally happy with new six-year Deere contract




EAST MOLINE — A new master contract between the United Auto Workers and Deere & Co. was accepted by a majority of workers at 15 Deere locations after all the votes were tallied on Sunday.
Jim Hecker, International Representative for the UAW and member of the union negotiating team, declined comment but said UAW International was expected to issue a press release late Sunday about the ratification of the contract.

The new agreement is in effect from Monday until the first day of October 2015, according to a press release from Deere & Co.

"To continue building and growing a great business, John Deere must remain competitive around the world," said Samuel Allen, Deere president and chief executive officer. "This agreement is good for our employees and good for the company. We appreciate the hard work and dedication of our work force as we team together to retain our position as a leader in the various markets we serve."

The new agreement covers approximately 9,500 employees and 17,000 retirees. Locally, the UAW/Deere Master Factory Agreement represents workers from John Deere Harvester Works in East Moline, John Deere Seeding Group/Cylinder Division in Moline, John Deere North America Parts Distribution Center in Milan and John Deere Davenport Works.

Other locations represented by the agreement are in the Iowa communities of Des Moines, Dubuque, Ottumwa and Waterloo, a plant in Kansas and parts depots in Atlanta and Denver.

The UAW-Deere bargaining committee recommended unanimous approval of the new six-year contract. Talks began Aug. 25 and ended with a tentative agreement late Wednesday, moments before the existing contract expired. Ratification meetings were held in four Quad-Cities area locations Sunday.

Many of the UAW employees from John Deere Harvester Works Local 865 left their contract ratification meeting at United Township High School offering thumbs-ups when asked if they were happy with what was offered.

"It is not too bad for this climate the economy is in. Fair, yes, I believe so," said Michael Guyton.

Deere said it would not comment publicly on the details of the new agreement, and UAW workers with Local 865 wouldn't give specifics about what the contract contained but generally said they still will not have to pay health insurance premiums but will pay more for co-pays. They also said their holidays will remain the same, and they'll get a raise. Deere & Co. also has agreed not to close any plants, UAW workers said.

Chuck Elliott said he had the choice to take it or leave it.

"I guess I'll take it," he said, adding he is glad he won't have to worry about plant closings.

"That is huge," said Patricia Bates about the pledge not to close plants. She said with some of the older workers that was a concern. "They are good jobs. You can't beat what they are."

One man, who did not give his name, said after the vote that at least they did not "get run under the bus."

He said employees hired before Oct. 1, 1997, were offered more compensation than those hired after that date.

"I have three children and a wife at home. I need to pay my bills and get ahead in life, too," the man said, adding that the longer-term workers have put their time in and likely deserve what they are getting. "We will get ours in the end, too."

Another man who wouldn't give his name said he expected the older workers to like what was offered a bit more than the younger workers.

"The new guys may want a little more," he said. "There will be some heartaches, but in the big picture, it will be fine. It is employment for the next six years."

Workers said the contract deletes the two-month notice employees are required to give before they retire, perhaps giving them, and thousands of other workers, some incentive to retire now.

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