MOLINE, Ill. — United Auto Workers and John Deere have reportedly reentered contract talks as the union strike enters Day 30 on Friday.
According to Bloomberg News, people "familiar with the matter" said negotiations resumed on Thursday, Nov. 11.
This marks the first time both sides have met in more than a week after union members rejected a tentative agreement that would have increased wages by 10% in the first year of a six-year contract, which also included an $8,500 signing bonus for every employee.
That contract was turned down in a 55-to-45% vote.
Bloomberg's sources said, "conversations have been ongoing, but this is the first formal sit-down to negotiate the next steps in reaching a ratified deal."
Since the strike began, union workers have been "off the line" at a dozen Deere plants in Iowa, Illinois and three other states.
John Deere Chief Technology Officer Jahmy Hindman told Fox Business News the company has been using an all-hands-on-deck approach to keep operations running.
Hindman has been one of many for Deere who have jumped on the line, machining transmission housing for tractors during the company's shorthanded state.
He added the company is, "exploring all options" in the following statement to Fox on Thursday:
"We're exploring all options to attract the labor that we need in order to meet our other directive which is making sure that we don't disappoint customers with planting season, in particular, right around the corner … There are thousands of people within Deere right now, doing everything that they possibly can to make sure we don't disappoint them."
Deere's stock has risen $25 per share in the past month, more than 7%, but it's down about 5% from six months ago.
The company will host a public shareholder's meeting Wednesday, Nov. 24.