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Caterpillar, UAW Resume Contract Negotiations

29 January 1998

Caterpillar, UAW Resume Contract Negotiations

    WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Federal Mediation and Conciliation
Service (FMCS) Director John Calhoun Wells is convening a full negotiation
session with representatives from Caterpillar Inc. and the United Auto Workers
(UAW).  The meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 2.
    Wells said, "After frequent discussions with Richard Shoemaker, Vice
President, UAW and Wayne Zimmerman, Vice President, Human Services Division of
Caterpillar, the parties have agreed to return to the central bargaining
table."
    Monday's full negotiating session will be the first since November 1995
between the Peoria, IL-based heavy equipment manufacturer and the union which
represents approximately 13,000 workers at Caterpillar facilities in Illinois,
Pennsylvania, Colorado and Tennessee.
    Wells, who led the federal mediation team in last summer's United Parcel
Service/Teamsters negotiations, has met individually and jointly with company
and Union leaders six times since last May.  In recent weeks, he has been in
near-daily telephone contact.  Following a December 15, 1997 meeting, the
union and company agreed to resume local bargaining.

SOURCE  Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service