Members of the United Auto Workers at John Deere have rejected the company’s proposal to extend their current collective bargaining agreement through 2029. UAW President Shawn Fain said workers remain concerned about job security, noting 1,600 employees are still laid off while Deere continues outsourcing some jobs.
“The company failed to make an offer that addressed the issues weighing on the minds of our members, especially job security,” Fain said.
A union statement points to Deere’s financial performance as another reason workers rejected the proposal. The company earned nearly $5 billion in profit last year and expects between $4.5 billion and $5 billion this year. Deere also spent $1.1 billion on stock buybacks and paid $1.7 billion in dividends in 2025.
UAW Vice President Laura Dickerson said workers believe they deserve a greater share of those gains. The current contract remains in place, with negotiations expected to resume before the agreement expires in 2027.
