EAST PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — Peoria-based Caterpillar Inc. is planning a temporary layoff at its East Peoria plant later this year.
The (Peoria) Journal Star (https://bit.ly/TJCaV6 ) reports that Caterpillar plays to idle a large portion of its work force in East Peoria for a week.
The company announced the plan Thursday. Officials say they're idling the complex that produces track-type tractors to "align production with demand." The move comes despite the fact that Caterpillar announced record results for the second quarter of 2012.
Caterpillar spokeswoman Bridget Young says the shutdown likely will be in November or December. There's no word on how many workers will be involved.
Paul Jackson of United Auto Workers Local 974 says a one-week shutdown is better than the indefinite layoffs union workers experienced in the 1980s.