Deere executives say the company won't return to the bargaining table with striking workers because it won't offer a better contract than one they rejected that included immediate 10% raises.

Marc Howze, the chief administrative officer of Deere & Co., said that the deal the United Auto Workers union rejected on Tuesday represented the most it could offer and still keep its costs competitive. About 55% of the 10,100 workers across Iowa, Illinois, and Kansas voted down the contract Tuesday, continuing a strike that started Oct. 14.

Deere's latest contract offer would have increased retirement benefits, increased hourly wages by 10%, and preserved the pension program for future employees, which the company had proposed to end in the first contract offer, rejected by workers Oct. 10.