Sep. 11--OTTUMWA -- Local John Deere retirees say they tried and tried to work things out with the company; now, they're taking Deere to court.

The group -- Flex Retirees Organization -- has filed a class action suit against the company over a perceived reduction in benefits they say they were promised.

In a press release Wednesday, the FRO claimed they weren't getting what they were promised.

"On Jan. 1, 2008, Deere & Company dramatically reduced health, dental and vision insurance benefits for the approximately 5,000 Flex Retirees, violating its promises to salaried employees who qualified for retirement benefits or who took early retirement options that they would be entitled to receive the same health benefits throughout retirement that they had as active employees."

A lawsuit was not their first choice, said Dave MacKenzie, president of the Ottumwa chapter of FRO.

"This began last October, when we got word of the [proposed] changes. By the first of November, we had formed an organization to try to stop Deere from making any changes," he said. "There was an attempt to communicate with the company, to change their mind. They refused to sit down and talk with us."

Still, he said, they tried.

"A representative from FRO went to the annual stockholders meeting to try to get an opportunity to speak, which they weren't granted. But later, they [were allowed] to sit down and have a discussion with the chairman of the board ... who basically refused to answer any questions."

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa on Wednesday.

"When all our attempts at either negotiations or sharing of information by just sitting down to talk were rejected by Deere -- their answers were 'no, no, no, no, no.' -- that's when the lawsuit happened," MacKenzie said.

Deere & Company spokesman Ken Golden said management has not yet had a chance to review the suit.

In a press release, Golden write: "However, Deere does plan to vigorously defend its actions in court. The [new] health care program was reviewed carefully before Deere introduced it and we are confident that the changes are appropriate and beneficial. We continue in our belief that involvement by retirees in their own health care decisions will result in choices that are better matched to each person's individual circumstance."

Mark Newman can be reached at 683-5358 or by e-mail at mgnewman@mchsi.com.

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