John Deere Union Members Approve Third Contract Offer

Ten-thousand John Deere union workers have voted to return to the job after a strike lasting five weeks.  After they had rejected two previous offers from the company, John Deere made what it called its final, best offer.  Sixty-one percent of the union members voted in favor of the proposal.  Operations resumed with the third shift last night just hours after the votes were totaled.  The six-year deal includes an immediate 10-percent raise and cost-of-living adjustments.  It also continues pension benefits for new workers and increases performance payments.