John Deere faces strike after union rejects contract

By Matt Kelley, Radio Iowa
Iowa’s largest manufacturing employer is facing a potential strike, as unionized John Deere workers voted Sunday night to reject the company’s latest contract offer.

The unions say 90 percent of members voted against the six-year offer which was for more than 10,000 workers at 14 Deere factories, including those in Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Ottumwa, and Waterloo.

A news release from the Quad Cities-based Deere says the offer “would have made the best wages and most comprehensive benefits significantly better for our employees.”

The deadline to reach a new accord and avoid a strike is midnight Wednesday.

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