With little fanfare, and just one brief press release, Deere and the United Auto Workers union have begun working on a new contract. The current, six-year agreement expires on September 30th.
The talks affect 10,000 Deere employees at 12 plants - in Davenport, Ankeny, Ottumwa, and Waterloo in Iowa, East Moline, Milan, and Moline in Illinois, and the Coffeyville Works in Kansas.
A separate agreement will be worked out for 110 hourly employees at facilities in Atlanta and Denver.
The company and union say there will be no public comment during negotiations except by joint press releases.