Talks were continuing today between Caterpillar and the United Auto Workers in an effort to avoid a noon strike threatened by the union.

The UAW said it wanted an agreement it could put to a membership vote by noon today or it would pull its 9,000-plus members from Caterpillar plants in four states -- Illinois, Colorado, Pennsylvania and Tennessee -- including those in the Peoria area.
The union said the deadline could be extended if there is positive movement in the talks, which started late last year.
A major issue between the two factions is the company's demand for a two-tiered wage scale, with new hires paid about half what existing employees earn. Caterpillar also insists hourly workers start paying some of their health care costs.
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