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.
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.
0 Comments
See all comments