Deere, UAW start contract negotiations

MOLINE, ILL. (AP) -- Deere & Co. and the United Auto Workers union have begun negotiations on a new contract covering about 9,500 employees, or roughly 17 percent of Deere's work force, at 15 of the company's facilities across the country.

The world's largest maker of farm equipment and the UAW said in a joint statement they have agreed not to comment publicly on contract issues during the talks.

The current contract went into effect Oct. 1, 2003, and expires at midnight Sept. 30.

The agreement includes the John Deere Davenport Works; John Deere Des Moines Works; John Deere Dubuque Works; John Deere Ottumwa Works; John Deere Waterloo Works; John Deere Engine Works in Waterloo; John Deere Waterloo Tractor, Cab Assembly Operations; John Deere Product Engineering Center in Waterloo, and John Deere Foundry in Waterloo.