Caterpillar to lay off 115 employees from South Milwaukee plant



SOUTH MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Officials with United Steel Workers local 1343 tell FOX6 News that Caterpillar will lay off 115 union employees at South Milwaukee facility.  The layoffs are to be effective as of Friday, October 11th.

The layoffs are considered indefinite because there is no call back date. They come on the heels of 260 production jobs being cut over the summer.

The laid off employees have call back rights (due to their contract) which means that if the market should improve and Caterpillar decides to hire people, the laid off workers would be the first ones considered (base on seniority).

One worker who did not want to talk on camera with FOX6 News said supervisory and production control employees were laid off last week.

Caterpillar released the following statement to FOX6 News on Monday, September 30th:


    Between 400 and 425 union employees will still be working at the South Milwaukee plant.

    Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.