A threatened widespread strike against Deere was...

A threatened widespread strike against Deere was averted as the company reached a tentative three-year contract agreement with the United Auto Workers. The pact opened the way for a resumption of talks between the union and Caterpillar Inc., with which the union is also negotiating. A spokesman said the agreement--which was reached after 20 hours of bargaining--would take effect immediately upon ratification by the company’s 13,400 UAW employees at factories and warehouses in Illinois, Iowa, Atlanta, Minneapolis and Denver. No date was set for a vote.