Cat announces additional layoffs, including in East Peoria

[GaryC 7]

We had a meeting with HR from our company (ATS) last week and they assured us that they are down to the bone as far as we are concerned. In truth we are having a hard time keeping up with the maintenance on their machines. They reduced us by 60% but the work order load only went down 30%. In effect we are doing twice the work with half the people. However, this is a new set of layoffs and I wouldn't be surprised if they cut us even more. I guess we will find out soon. The big problem is that Cat does not give us ANY notice when they cut our budget. They just walk in and say "effective today your contract is reduced by XX%. Lay off your workers today." Nothing like a little more uncertainty in my daily life.

Cat announces additional layoffs, including in East Peoria

PEORIA —

Caterpillar Inc. announced Tuesday morning it plans to lay off an additional 2,365 employees at five plants — including 911 in East Peoria — and said it will close a facility in Georgia that will eliminate 89 jobs.

The layoffs, scheduled to begin in June, likely will last at least six months, the company said in a news release.

The layoffs, which would bring the total number of workers laid off at Caterpillar facilities worldwide to more than 24,000, are “due to lower volumes and to bring production levels in line with demand,” the company said.

In East Peoria, 861 hourly production workers and 50 support and management employees are affected at plants where track-type tractors and pipelayers are manufactured.

Other layoffs include 665 production workers and 150 support and management personnel in Aurora, where hydraulic excavators and wheel loaders are made.

Also, Caterpillar said 405 production and 34 support and management employees will be laid off at its large engine plant in Lafayette, Ind., and 200 employees — 189 production and 11 support and management — will be laid off at its engine plant in Griffin, Ga.

Caterpillar said it issued mass layoff notices as required to various governmental agencies under the U.S. Department of Labor’s Worker Adjustement and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act.

In other news, Caterpillar Inc. has instituted rolling layoffs at its Pontiac plant. The move allows the heavy equipment maker to furlough the entire work force for a time while remaining in operation.

United Auto Workers Local 2096 acting president John Bogucki said the plant will shut down for the week of March 23 and then again for the week of April 13.

Workers are also being made to take their two-week paid vacation time in July. Bogucki said normally they choose what weeks to take off.

Caterpillar spokesman Jim Dugan said the company has announced a wide range of actions in the last couple of months, such as laying off 20,000 workers, to respond to declining profits. He said there are options which different plants can take to help cut costs.

Caterpillar also is laying off more than 400 employees at an Indiana engine plant for at least six months.

The company says that the layoffs at the Lafayette plant are in response to lower demand for its products. The diesel engines produced at the factory are used in marine, petroleum, electric power, locomotive and industrial applications.

Caterpillar notified 405 production workers and 34 management and support employees of the layoffs on Tuesday. The layoffs will begin on May 29.

The company says more layoffs may be required later this year, depending on business conditions.

http://www.pjstar.com/business/x110652014/...-in-East-Peoria

[Ban Hammer 13,346]

this sucks! you just bought a house not too long ago.

[GaryC 7]

this sucks! you just bought a house not too long ago.

One year and 2 weeks ago to be precise. I just don't know how much job related stress I can take. They have put a huge number of other restrictions on us. Any time we need a replacement part that costs more than $100 we must get a Cat supervisor to sign it off. Any part that costs more than $1000 it must go through channels to be approved. For example, we have been fighting a particular machine problem for a week now. Every specialist has been working on it including myself. Yesterday I finally figured out what the problem is. We need to replace about $3000 worth of parts to fix it. We were told that they will not pay for those parts and we must find a way to fix it without them. It just isn't possible. We are really getting a lot of pressure to do the impossible. This is getting ridiculous.

[Heracles 417]

Gary this is why we need to move ahead with infrastructure and large scale projects in America. CAT benefits greatly from such projects as does the rest of America.

Quiet frankly any senator against this is not only moronic but unAmerican. Time to invest in America and on Americans.

We also need to mandate E-verify for any and every project. At this time, only Americans and legal residents should benefit from American taxpayer funded projects.

[Ban Hammer 13,346]

this sucks! you just bought a house not too long ago.

One year and 2 weeks ago to be precise. I just don't know how much job related stress I can take. They have put a huge number of other restrictions on us. Any time we need a replacement part that costs more than $100 we must get a Cat supervisor to sign it off. Any part that costs more than $1000 it must go through channels to be approved. For example, we have been fighting a particular machine problem for a week now. Every specialist has been working on it including myself. Yesterday I finally figured out what the problem is. We need to replace about $3000 worth of parts to fix it. We were told that they will not pay for those parts and we must find a way to fix it without them. It just isn't possible. We are really getting a lot of pressure to do the impossible. This is getting ridiculous.

#######?

[GaryC 7]

this sucks! you just bought a house not too long ago.

One year and 2 weeks ago to be precise. I just don't know how much job related stress I can take. They have put a huge number of other restrictions on us. Any time we need a replacement part that costs more than $100 we must get a Cat supervisor to sign it off. Any part that costs more than $1000 it must go through channels to be approved. For example, we have been fighting a particular machine problem for a week now. Every specialist has been working on it including myself. Yesterday I finally figured out what the problem is. We need to replace about $3000 worth of parts to fix it. We were told that they will not pay for those parts and we must find a way to fix it without them. It just isn't possible. We are really getting a lot of pressure to do the impossible. This is getting ridiculous.

#######?

Some bean counter in Cat decided this. He doesn't know his a$$ from a hole in the ground. I am sure that the production managers in our building will go over his head soon. This just illustrates the moronic nature of the management. But it does show the pressure we are under to keep up.

[Ban Hammer 13,346]

this sucks! you just bought a house not too long ago.

One year and 2 weeks ago to be precise. I just don't know how much job related stress I can take. They have put a huge number of other restrictions on us. Any time we need a replacement part that costs more than $100 we must get a Cat supervisor to sign it off. Any part that costs more than $1000 it must go through channels to be approved. For example, we have been fighting a particular machine problem for a week now. Every specialist has been working on it including myself. Yesterday I finally figured out what the problem is. We need to replace about $3000 worth of parts to fix it. We were told that they will not pay for those parts and we must find a way to fix it without them. It just isn't possible. We are really getting a lot of pressure to do the impossible. This is getting ridiculous.

#######?

Some bean counter in Cat decided this. He doesn't know his a$$ from a hole in the ground. I am sure that the production managers in our building will go over his head soon. This just illustrates the moronic nature of the management. But it does show the pressure we are under to keep up.

does this bean counter realize that 3k in parts is probably the lesser of two evils when the machine isn't working right?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

An IT outsourcer I worked for in 2005 used to lay off people in the field without a plan to backfill their responsibilities, without even notifying the employees managers. Just a beancoutner who saw a salary $$ he didn't like.

[Heracles 417]

Some bean counter in Cat decided this. He doesn't know his a$$ from a hole in the ground. I am sure that the production managers in our building will go over his head soon. This just illustrates the moronic nature of the management. But it does show the pressure we are under to keep up.

A lot of companies went downhill when they started allowing accountants to call the shots. I have seen this happen time and time again. Most people who make such unrealistic demands have a background in accounting.

[GaryC 7]

I have to give my company (ATS) a prop or two. When the budget was cut they could have started with the highest paid people (that includes myself) but they realized that when things pick up again the specialists will be needed to train the new hires. It means that my job description has changed for now however. Normally I would just assist the floor techs when they get stuck and my main job would be to come up with cost saving measures and improved maintenance procedures. Now I am on the floor fixing machines as my main function. I don't really mind since it means I can keep working.

I had an interesting encounter with the CEO of ATS last week. He sent out a memo that salaried employees will take a 5% pay cut. Two months ago all the hourly employees had one day a pay period taken away from us. I sent the CEO an email pointing out that while the salaried employees had a 5% reduction the hourly employees had a 10% cut. An hour later the head of HR called me and said the CEO had forwarded the email to him. He told me that effective immediately the hourly employees would get their 80 hours a pay period back! I was quite surprised to say the least.

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

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed and praying for you, Gary.

Does your state have unemployment insurance? Do you have any alternatives in a worst case scenario?

[Heracles 417]

Gary you have experience with plastics right?

Anything along the lines of printing on plastic cups?

Would you consider moving to the Virginia Beach area? Weather is better there too

[GaryC 7]

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed and praying for you, Gary.

Does your state have unemployment insurance? Do you have any alternatives in a worst case scenario?

We have UI but it would only be about half of what I make now. I work at the transmission business unit of Cat. Every piece of equipment that Cat makes needs a transmission that only my plant makes. It gives us a small measure of security but I am by no means bullet proof. I will just continue to do my best for the company and hope things turn out.

Gary you have experience with plastics right?

Anything along the lines of printing on plastic cups?

Would you consider moving to the Virginia Beach area? Weather is better there too

I am a CNC specialist. I provide high level tech support for the electronics systems on CNC machines but I can transpose my experience to different systems if need be. It wouldn't be the first time. Most plastic machines are PLC driven and I have a lot of experience with that as well.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

UI is nice, but it can't accomplish what a healthy savings can. This is why people should save and not rely too much on the social safety net. JMHO of course.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

UI is nice, but it can't accomplish what a healthy savings can. This is why people should save and not rely too much on the social safety net. JMHO of course.

My financial adviser says everyone should have 2 months salary in a savings account or easily accessible for such a scenario. I tend to agree with him.