Caterpillar Could Recall 9,000 Workers This Year

Caterpillar has laid off 20,000 employees worldwide since late 2008. Thousands more took early retirement or separation incentives and Caterpillar suppliers laid off thousands of their own in response. - Photo courtesy of Caterpillar

Whatever it takes to thrill the leadership of United Auto Workers Local 974, the prospect that a couple thousand of its members could be back to work this year ranks near the top.

''This is definitely good news,'' said Local 974 President Dave Chapman. ''We're thrilled to hear it.'' Caterpillar Inc. believes it can recall 9,000 or more of its laid-off workers worldwide - including close to 3,000 in Illinois - by the end of 2010.

While about 6,000 of the recalled workers are in those foreign markets, including Asia and Latin America, where the growth is strongest, thousands of workers at U.S. plants that export their products will be brought back as well. The bulk of those are in Illinois.

The layoffs and job cuts were the major part of Caterpillar's overall cost-cutting plan to get the company through the recession. The company claims it worked as it has continued to be profitable in all but one of the last five quarters and now sees sales starting to grow again.

- Courtesy of Peoria Star Journal