MOLINE, Ill., Aug. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The United Auto Workers and Deere & Company jointly announced today that they have begun collective bargaining on a new master agreement covering approximately 9,500 represented employees at 15 John Deere facilities. The current agreement became effective October 1, 2003. It expires at midnight September 30, 2009. After this announcement, the company and union leadership have agreed to not make public comments on contract issues during negotiations. "Our goal is an agreement that benefits our members, Deere & Company, and the communities where we work and live," said UAW Vice President Jimmy Settles, who directs the union's Agricultural Implement Department. "We look forward to mutually beneficial discussions and a successful completion of the collective bargaining process," said Ken Huhn, vice president of labor relations, Deere & Company. The locations represented by the UAW/Deere Master Factory Agreement include the John Deere Harvester Works in East Moline, IL; John Deere Seeding Group/Cylinder Division in Moline, IL; John Deere North American Parts Distribution Center in Milan, IL; John Deere Davenport (IA) Works; John Deere Des Moines (IA) Works; John Deere Dubuque (IA) Works; John Deere Ottumwa (IA) Works; John Deere Waterloo (IA) Works; John Deere Engine Works (Waterloo); John Deere Waterloo Tractor, Cab Assembly Operations; John Deere Product Engineering Center (Waterloo); John Deere Foundry (Waterloo); and parts depots in Atlanta and Denver. The John Deere Coffeyville (KS) Works will also be covered by the upcoming agreement. DATASOURCE: Deere & Company CONTACT: Ken Golden, Director, Strategic Public Relations of Deere & Company, +1-309-765-5678; or Sandra Davis of United Auto Workers, +1-313-926-5291 Web Site: http://www.deere.com/

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