Deere & Caterpillar Recalling Idled Workers

Deere & Co., Moline, IL, said it is recalling 117 workers at its Iowa plants in Dubuque and Davenport, as market conditions in its construction and forestry divisions improve, the Associated Press reports.

The company said February boosted its outlook for 2010 after an unexpected increase in agricultural orders helped drive first-quarter profit 19% higher.

Deere spokesman Ken Golden confirmed that 65 workers at its Dubuque plant and 52 others at its plant in Davenport will return to work in early March. Golden said the recalls are needed to meet market demand and to replace normal retirements in the work force.

In March 2009, Deere announced plans to lay off 220 workers in Dubuque and 105 in Davenport as the recession weakened demand for its products.

Similarly, Caterpillar Inc. is recalling about 100 workers to jobs at its large engine center in Lafayette, IN. Those returning to work are among about 450 people laid off from the factory in May of last year. Company spokesman Jim Dugan said the worker recalls are being phased in through early March.

Dugan said the recalls come because of an increase in demand for the company’s engines after very low levels last year.