Deere & Co. Workers Ratify 6-Year Contract

Union employees at Deere & Co. ratified a six-year contract that means more money for current workers, but introduces a two-tier pay scale bringing in new workers at lower wages.

The United Auto Workers said Monday the agreement was approved by more than 74 percent of the members voting.

Negotiators for the farm equipment maker and the UAW reached the tentative agreement last Wednesday, and over the weekend the proposal was put to a vote by 9,000 UAW members, most of whom are in Illinois and Iowa.

While current employees will benefit, new workers would start at lower pay and have new job classifications.