According to a post on Facebook, UAW Local 281 in Davenport voted 666-to-4 in favor of the authorization on Sunday. Overall, across 9 locals in the John Deere chain, there was an over 95% majority in favor of authorizing a strike if necessary.
The current, six-year contract will expire on October 1st and covers around 10,000 employees at twelve plants in Illinois, Iowa, and Kansas.
Previous version 9/13/2021:
On Sunday, union workers at John Deere factories in the US will get their first look at a contract proposal, and they'll take a strike authorization vote.
United Auto Workers Local 865's Facebook page says on Sunday afternoon, union members will meet to learn about the company's first offer from the bargaining table.
Two presentation times are on the schedule at 1:30 and 2:30 pm at the union hall in East Moline. Voting on the strike authorization will be open until 3:30 pm.
Negotiations began last month between Deere and the UAW. The current, six-year contract will expire on October 1st and covers around 10,000 employees at twelve plants.
In Illinois, the factories are the Harvester Works in East Moline, North American Parts Distribution Center in Milan, and the Seeding Group and Cylinder Division in Moline.
In Iowa, they are the Davenport Works, Des Moines Works, Dubuque Works, Ottumwa Works, and Waterloo Works.
In Kansas, there is one Deere facility, the Coffeyville Works.
A separate agreement also is being negotiated to cover nearly 100 production and maintenance employees at Deere parts facilities in Denver and Atlanta.
