How to Handle a Layoff

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) and the United Steelworkers union agreed to meet next week, after resuming contract negotiations Thursday for union workers at mining equipment plants in Wisconsin.Another bargaining session was scheduled for May 30, Caterpillar said on its website. The two sides met for about four hours Thursday, and the union presented company negotiators with a contract proposal. A union negotiator declined to divulge details about the union's offer, but described the meeting as more constructive than the last session two weeks ago."The tone of the meeting was a lot better than the last time we met," said Ross Winklbauer, a subdistrict director for the union in Milwaukee. "We bounced some ideas back and forth. We were carrying on a good discussion."The union represents about 800 workers at two plants in Milwaukee and South Milwaukee, Wis., where large mining equipment is assembled. Caterpillar, Peoria, Ill., acquired the plants as part of its purchase of mining equipment manuf...

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