Deere & Co said its latest offer rejected by the United Auto Workers (UAW) union is its “best and final offer”, adding that it will keep all options open as the workers’ strike continues.
Workers at the Illinois-based company continued their three-week-old strike a day after they voted 55 per cent to reject the second tentative agreement union leaders negotiated with the company.
“We’re focused on getting our employees back to work through an agreement, and as such we’re not ready to discuss detailed next steps, but all options are on the table,” Deere said in a statement, but did not mention whether it will replace workers to restart operations.
Deere and the UAW union will continue to have talks, a Deere spokesperson told Reuters news agency.
The rejected deal was a six-year contract with a 10 per cent increase in the first year and a signing bonus.
