Caterpillar, UAW strike tentative deal

Caterpillar reached a tentative agreement Dec. 15 with the United Auto Workers on a new six-year deal for union employees who have been working without a contract since May. The new contract, if approved by UAW members, would cover more than 9,000 workers in Illinois, Colorado, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. The agreement was reached after negotiators from Caterpillar and UAW discussed the deal for two days during talks that were the first to take place between the two sides since August. Neither Caterpillar nor the UAW has disclosed the details of the tentative agreement, but spokesmen for both have stated their support for the proposed contract. “We faced some complex issues over the past year, and through comprehensive discussions with the union have developed solutions that respond to the current and future needs of our employees and retirees,” said Chris Glynn, director of labor relations for Caterpillar.