Replacement Workers Okayed (Caterpillar strike)

[54anickel]

http://week.com/morenews/morenews-read.asp?id=3940

A federal judge has ruled Caterpillar can use temporary replacement workers if there is a work stoppage.

Chief U.S. District Judge Joe McDade found that parts of a state law would cause irreparable harm to employers like Caterpillar undergoing labor negotiations.

The law bars the use of temporary replacement workers in the case of a work stoppage.

Last week, Caterpillar workers voted to authorize a strike if negotiations for a new contract break down.



about the strike:
http://www.socialistworker.org/2004-1/492/492_11_Caterpillar.shtml

[Bluzmann57]

1. And yet another blow to organized Labor

Cat is huge in Peoria. If the UAW goes down there, it will be a major blow to that Union. Support your Union brothers and sisters, we made America great.

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

9. Is there a strike fund?

looks like things are heating up.

[ender]

13. CATEPILLAR fscked YORK, PA.

they'll fucj any other town they can.

[denverbill]

2. Another activist unelected judge.

A federal judge overruling a state law. Whatever happened to states' rights?

Oh yeah. Those only matter sometimes.

[mulsh]

3. scabs is the correct term

n/t

[revcarol]

4. Labor stuck with them when they were having hard times,

and now labor is dog poop.

Repeal Taft-Hartley like Kucinich wants. Kerry should NOT be quiet on this... UNLESS big business is more important to him than hundreds of thousands of labor workers going door to door for him...

Labor is always taken for granted by Democrats, then pissed on.
The same applies to African-Americans.

Time to REFORM OUR PARTY!!

[theHandpuppet]

7. Amen!

If we allow the unions in this country to go down the tubes, folks, we will ALL pay the consequences. Our Dem leaders MUST speak out for the unions AND follow through on their promises.

[kodi]

5. anti-scab laws found illegal. what's next? collective bargining itself.

the power of the strike is meaningless if such a strike has no impact on management.

this is what the judege decided, to say the law was itself illegal because it allowed harm to the company.

[theHandpuppet]

6. Scabs are the lowest form of life

We need to support our union brothers and sisters!!!

[mobuto]

11. No they're not

I don't have much use for them, but they're not the enemy. They just wants a job like everyone else. The management who bring them in -- they're the lowest form of life.

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

8. not again! Caterpillar did this back in the early 90s, I think

hiring scabs to bust a strike.

[mbperrin]

10. Can't allow folks to stick together to make their point,

eh? That's sorta like commynism, ain't it?

Don't know about there, some places scabs have an unpleasant life, if you wanta call it that.

[ConcernedCanuk]

12. It's probably a government thing - the WarMachine and all - -

.
.
.

"Whether its standard products, modification of existing products, or entirely new products, Caterpillar is committed to all branches of the military and to U.S. Federal Government agencies"

/snip

The future of the United States is dependent upon safe and reliable navigation of our waters and the vigilance of the U.S. Navy in executing their missions around the world. Whether conducting rescue operations, supporting worldwide emergency situations, or providing amphibious logistical and fleet support, the U.S. Navy gets the most out of its crew and ships. And Caterpillar Marine Products go with them every step of the way.



More at http://www.google.com/search?q=Caterpillar+military&sourceid=mozilla-search&start=0&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8">google results

[doc03]

14. The Caterpillar Company is scum

They were one of the companies most outspoken against the steel tariffs. They want to buy cheap foreign steel made by slave labor in China. But they want Americans to buy their equipment. They have a history of bringing scabs in to break strikes, they did it a few years ago.

[54anickel]

15. But their stock is expected to do well....

:puke:

http://www.newratings.com/new2/beta/article_402299.html
snip>
According to Robert W Baird’s research note published this morning, Caterpillar is likely to report its 1Q04 results ahead of the consensus expectations. The analysts expect the company to have witnessed a robust upturn in its North American machinery sales during the quarter. Robert W Baird expects Caterpillar to benefit considerably from a potential decline in its incentive compensation expenses this year, after its record compensation payments in 2003.

The analysts anticipate limited impact of an eventual labour strike on Caterpillar’s operating results, following the expiration of its contract with UAW this week. The company is negotiating a new contract with UAW, Robert W Baird says.


http://www.forbes.com/work/newswire/2004/03/29/rtr1314978.html
snip>
Speaking at the Bauma trade fair in Munich, Chief Executive James Owens confirmed statements in January that earnings per share (EPS) are set to jump 40 percent from $3.13 in 2003.

Owens, who took the helm at Caterpillar this year, also said sales and revenues should rise by 12 percent in the current year following 13 percent growth in 2003 to $22.8 billion.

snip>
When asked about the status of wage talks with the United Auto Workers union, Owens declined to discuss specifics due to an imposed media black-out.

"I'm encouraged with the way talks have gone so far," he said. Caterpillar's contract with the UAW expires at midnight on March 31.