Obama: Caterpillar will rehire if stimulus passes

[GaryC 7]

Today had to be the most depressing day in a very long time. I watched as my entire shift of workers were laid off one at a time. People I have worked with for 3 years and have come to call friends. I don't know what to think about this "stimulus package". The amount of pork involved makes the good parts of it very hard to go along with. I agree that something needs to be done about the banking situation and I can also see that we need to do something to get the economy back on track but I also see the opportunistic nature of this bill. It seems that despite the rhetoric of helping the country too many in congress see this as an opportunity to advance their own agenda. I feel like we are being forced to accept the pork in order to get what we need. I am very disappointed in our government right now.

Obama: Caterpillar will rehire if stimulus passes

By BEN FELLER, Associated Press Writer Ben Feller, Associated Press Writer – 52 mins ago

President Barack Obama and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine visit the construction site AP – President Barack Obama and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine visit the construction site of the Fairfax County …

SPRINGFIELD, Va. – President Barack Obama, campaigning to cast his economic plan in terms of real jobs and families, said Wednesday that machinery giant Caterpillar Inc. plans to rehire some of its laid-off workers if Congress approves a sweeping stimulus bill.

The president sought to offer a clear example of how the legislation would help as House and Senate negotiators reached for a final deal with the White House, trimming the emerging legislation down to below $800 billion. That's still an enormous package, targeted at an economy that continues to bleed jobs.

Obama's mention of Caterpillar also came just one day before he was heading to Peoria, Ill., to visit the company's workers and keep pushing his plan. The heavy-equipment maker has announced more than 20,000 job cuts, as shrinking credit and construction demands hurt orders for tractors and other machines.

Said Obama: "Today, the chairman and CEO of Caterpillar said that if the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan passes, his company would be able to rehire some of those employees." He did not specify to whom the company chairman and CEO, Jim Owens, made such a pledge.

Caterpillar spokesman Jim Dugan said that he had no comment on the president's account of the company's plans but did not dispute it either. He said the company did not want to discuss ahead of time what its chairman would say during the president's visit, but that it looked forward to hosting Obama.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said that Caterpillar "did communicate to the White House" that it plans to reevaluate its employment situation, particularly in Peoria and downstate Illinois, based on "a big investment that could be coming shortly to put Americans back to work."

As anticipation grew for an economic bill that Obama could sign, the president kept up his pattern of getting outside Washington to promote his ideas. He spoke on Wednesday from a highway construction site in Springfield, outside Washington, where work is under way but more money will be needed.

Obama said he welcomed the conversation in the nation's capital about the economic plan — but just as quickly added that "the time for talk has passed."

"I am here today because you don't need to travel very far from that debate to see why enacting this plan is both urgent and essential to our recovery," Obama said, standing with Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine on a windy hillside near the Fairfax County Parkway connector, with bulldozers off in the distance.

To keep up momentum, Obama centered on not just the real-world consequences of a hurting economy, but also grabbed hold of what can happen when infrastructure starts to fail. He noted a devastating bridge collapse in Minneapolis and the levees that failed when Hurricane Katrina swamped New Orleans.

"We see the consequences every day in ways that may be less drastic, but are, nonetheless, burdens on local communities and economies," Obama said. He described those as "time with family lost because of longer daily commutes; growth held back by streets that can't handle new business; money wasted on fuel that's burned in worsening traffic."

Obama has also traveled to Indiana and Florida this week to pitch the stimulus plan, holding more extensive town-hall events in those hard-hit areas.

"So much depends on what we do at this moment," Obama said. "It's not just about the future of my administration. It's about the future of our families and communities, our economy and our country. We are going to do this carefully and transparently and effectively as possible because so much is on the line."

[DeadPoolX 9]

Holy #######!

I haven't seen Gary around here for ages...

[Heracles 417]

Is your job safe?

[GaryC 7]

Is your job safe?

Yes. But today 20 of my friends got laid off. Just 2 months ago we had 110 ATS workers at the building I work at. Today there are 30. Last night the entire 3rd shift got the ax. People that I have been training for 3 years now. I haven't been this depressed in a very long time. I guess its call survivors remorse. Why should I get to stay when so many others had to go?

Edited February 11, 2009 by GaryC

[SMOKE 1,426]

Is your job safe?

Yes. But today 20 of my friends got laid off. Just 2 months ago we had 110 ATS workers at the building I work at. Today there are 30. Last night the entire 3rd shift got the ax. People that I have been training for 3 years now. I haven't been this depressed in a very long time. I guess its call survivors remorse. Why should I get to stay when so many others had to go?

you can't think like that Gary. you can & do feel for the ones let go. but, you put your time in & you know the ins & outs of your job. (thats why you've been training these people for 3 years) you're too valuable of an asset to CAT.(to be let go) & way too important to your family & friends. (to let these tough times get you this down)

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

gary is back

although the bad news posts are the domain of aj.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Is your job safe?

Yes. But today 20 of my friends got laid off. Just 2 months ago we had 110 ATS workers at the building I work at. Today there are 30. Last night the entire 3rd shift got the ax. People that I have been training for 3 years now. I haven't been this depressed in a very long time. I guess its call survivors remorse. Why should I get to stay when so many others had to go?

What SMOKE said. My workplace has gone through 2 rounds of layoffs already and I just found out a 3rd is coming. If I make it, there'll be no remorse from me.

[peejay 327]

I saw the same stuff going down when the economy tanked in the early 1980's. My department went from 425 people to only 75 when I finally got let go. That was when I was working as a piping designer at an engineering company in those days.

I now work in the offshore oil industry and the layoffs are going down there too. My boss got let go this week and his duties are being consolidated to a smaller pool of management. So far they haven't let go any of the actual grunts like me. We do the work that flows the oil and $$$.

However, ongoing projects have been shelved and the budget has been slashed. Without new production coming on line it is a matter of time before the work dries up. At that point it becomes a game of musical chairs. When the music stops you better not be left without a chair to sit in.

[GaryC 7]

gary is back

although the bad news posts are the domain of aj.

Lets hope that for Cat at least this is a good news post. I see that the bill passed. Owens has said that if it does then Cat will rehire it's workers. If that is true then I hope that means that they will restore ATS's budget and we can rehire the people we just lost.

I am really torn by all this. I feel like we have a gun to our heads. Congress has basically said that to get the good stuff we have to accept the biggest pork barrel spending bill in history. I am through with supporting ANYONE in our government. They are all a bunch of self centered azzholes that care only for themselves. Screw them all.

[HAL 9000 96]

Agreed with you on that one Gary... hope your colleagues can return to work ASAP.

[GaryC 7]

This is from our local newspaper. I can only hope that he follows through with his promise. I just talked to my boss, he said that I should get my rest because he said "tonight is going to be a bad night. Since there are only 4 of us left on third shift we must keep things working until he gets the OK to hire back our workers." It looks like the four of us must do the work of 24. Lord give me strength.

Owens: CAT will recall laid off employees if "acceptable" stimulus package is approved

By PAUL GORDON

of the Journal Star

Posted Feb 11, 2009 @ 10:34 AM

Last update Feb 11, 2009 @ 03:35 PM

PEORIA —

Caterpillar Inc. Chairman Jim Owens will pledge to President Barack Obama on Thursday that his company will begin recalling laid off employees if an acceptable economic stimulus package is approved and enacted quickly, the Journal Star has learned.

Owens, who will fly into Peoria on Air Force One with the president on Thursday afternoon, will encourage passage of a "significant stimulus package" in the United States and will offer his and Caterpilar's encouragement for other stimulus packages being considered around the world, said a source familiar with the plans for Obama's visit to Peoria on Thursday.

Owens, the source said, in his discussions with Obama and his public comments during the visit, will "emphasize that these economic stimulus packages are a critical step toward global economic recovery."

If the packages are adopted and enacted quickly, it would give Caterpillar the opportunity to begin recalling those employees who have already been laid off since early December and like stave off planned near-term layoffs.

Caterpillar spokesman Jim Dugan declined to confirm any of the information. "We are not pre-releasing anything about the visit or the chairman's remarks," he said.

The purpose of Obama's trip to Peoria is to push passage of an economic stimulus bill, which he also has said is critical to getting the economy started toward recovery. The package being sought would include provisions for infrastructure work nationwide, which would put thousands back to work and likely once again create demand for Caterpillar products.

Obama spoke about the package and Owens' pledge during a speech today in Springfield, Va.

"For example, this kind of infrastructure project requires heavy equipment. Caterpillar, which manufactures the machines used in this project, has announced some 20,000 layoffs in the last few weeks. And today, the chairman and CEO of Caterpillar said that if the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan passes, his company would be able to rehire some of those employees," Obama said.

"Tomorrow, I'm going to East Peoria, Illinois, to visit a Caterpillar manufacturing plant to talk to these workers. Because what's at stake here are not abstract numbers of abstract concepts -- we're talking about real families that we can help and real jobs that we can save."

Later, asked about the Journal Star report that Owens will accompany Obama on Air Force One, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs replied, "The Journal Star is a paper I read and believe."

Caterpillar has been vocal in its concern that a stimulus package not include language that could be construed as protectionist and possibly cause export markets to be closed to large exporters like Caterpillar.

Obama also has cautioned against such protectionist language, but it still exists in one form or another is the stimulus packages passed by the U.S. House and Senate -- packages now being consolidated in committee.

Obama will stop in Peoria and tour Caterpillar Building HH in East Peoria before making remarks to employees, the source said.

He is scheduled to speak at a dinner honoring Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday later Thursday in Springfield.

http://www.pjstar.com/breaking/x1848776726...age-is-approved

[SMOKE 1,426]

This is from our local newspaper. I can only hope that he follows through with his promise. I just talked to my boss, he said that I should get my rest because he said "tonight is going to be a bad night. Since there are only 4 of us left on third shift we must keep things working until he gets the OK to hire back our workers." It looks like the four of us must do the work of 24. Lord give me strength.

& a six pack of red bulls....good luck!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Is your job safe?

Yes. But today 20 of my friends got laid off. Just 2 months ago we had 110 ATS workers at the building I work at. Today there are 30. Last night the entire 3rd shift got the ax. People that I have been training for 3 years now. I haven't been this depressed in a very long time. I guess its call survivors remorse. Why should I get to stay when so many others had to go?

I'm sorry that you are feeling down about it, but I'm thankful that you weren't let go. Hang in there and glad to see you here.

[mRx 16]

Maybe time to buy some CAT stock.

[crazyinEgypt 0]

This just suxs! I don't see how Obama can turn this mess around. I just cannot bring myself to trust him.