The vote against the offer that would have given United Auto Workers union members a 10 percent raise hike means that the first major strike since 1986 will continue at the maker of agriculture and construction equipment [File: Charlie Neibergall]

Iowa City, November 3 (RHC)-- In the U.S., a majority of workers at Deere & Co have rejected a contract offer that would have given them 10 percent raises and decided to remain on strike in the hopes of securing a better deal.

The raises in the new agreement reached over the weekend were twice as big as the ones in the original offer United Auto Workers (UAW) union members rejected last month, but those raises and improved benefits weren’t enough to end the strike that began on October 14. 

The new agreement also would have provided an $8,500 ratification bonus, preserved a pension option for new employees, made workers eligible for health insurance sooner and maintained their no-premium health insurance coverage.

The disputed contract covers more than 10,000 Deere workers at 12 facilities in Iowa, Illinois and Kansas.  A smaller group of about 100 workers at two Deere facilities in Colorado and Georgia voted to accept an identical deal.

The union said 55 percent of its members at the 12 main plants voted against this latest contract offer Tuesday.  Last month, 90 percent of union members also rejected a proposed contract that included immediate 5 percent raises for some workers and 6 percent for others, and 3 percent raises in 2023 and 2025.

Deere officials said they were disappointed the agreement was voted down.  “Through the agreements reached with the UAW, John Deere would have invested an additional $3.5 billion in our employees, and by extension, our communities, to significantly enhance wages and benefits that were already the best and most comprehensive in our industries,” said Marc A Howze, Deere’s chief administrative officer.  “This investment was the right one for Deere, our employees, and everyone we serve together.”

Employees would have received wages between $22.13 an hour and $33.05 an hour under the latest rejected contract, depending on their positions.

Tuesday’s vote means that the first major strike since 1986 will continue at the maker of agriculture and construction equipment.  Currently, many companies are dealing with worker shortages, making workers feel emboldened to demand more.