by James Parks, Mar 7, 2011
Members of the UAW ratified a new six-year contract with Caterpillar Inc. covering 9,500 workers at plants in Colorado, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.
“This ratification is particularly pleasing as it may have finally put the troublesome relationship between the UAW and Cat right where it belongs: behind us,” UAW Secretary-Treasurer Dennis Williams said in a statement.
UAW and Caterpillar began contract negotiations Dec. 15 for a new agreement covering workers at the construction and mining equipment maker’s Illinois facilities in Aurora, Decatur, East Peoria, Mapleton, Mossville, Morton, and Pontiac, as well as the company’s facilities in York, Pa., Memphis, Tenn., and Denver.
UAW President Bob King said:
This is another example of unions and business working together, recognizing each others’ needs, and finding creative solutions to keep good manufacturing jobs in the U.S. in this very competitive global economy.
The previous agreement expired March 1.
