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UAW Ratifies Six-Year Deere Contract

6 October 1997

UAW Ratifies Six-Year Deere Contract

    MOLINE, Ill., Oct. 6 -- Deere & Company today
announced it has been notified by the United Auto Workers (UAW) that the
tentative agreement between the two parties for a new labor contract has been
ratified by the Deere-UAW local unions.  Ratification votes were held on
October 4 and 5.  The new agreement, which takes effect immediately, covers
approximately 9,000 UAW members at Deere facilities in six states.
    "Deere & Company is very pleased with the endorsement of this contract by
our UAW-represented employees," said Gordon Tjelmeland, Deere spokesman.  "We
believe the agreement is an excellent one.  It addresses the interests of
current workers, while at the same time, creates an environment that will
allow the company to hire new employees at competitive wages and benefits."

SOURCE  John Deere & Company