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Our Village, Our News
JUNE 6, 2012
Vol. 4 No. 40
CATERPILLAR STRIKES OUT Union members reject latest contract proposal, continue strike By Jonathan Samples Staff Reporter
Jonathan Samples/Bugle Staff
Gareth Beeson (left) and other Local 851 members (pictured above) shout union slogans at Caterpillar employees as they enter and exit the Joliet facility Thursday.
The vote is in, and nearly 800 workers on strike at Caterpillar’s Joliet facility again decided to reject a reworked contract proposal offered to them by the construction equipment manufacturer. “We have been informed by union officials that employees rejected a modified six-year proposed agreement with
the company,” chief corporate spokesperson for Caterpillar Jim Dugan said. “We believe this offer was a fair, reasonable and comprehensive proposal for our employees.” It has been just over a month since the International Association of Machinists Local 851 voted down Caterpillar’s initial union contract proposal. Last Wednesday, Local 851 voted 504-116 to reject See STRIKE, page 2