Caterpillar smoking ban riles workers

EAST PEORIA, Ill., May 31 (UPI) -- Union leaders at Caterpillar Inc.'s U.S. manufacturing plants say a new smoking ban violates their contract.

The anti-smoking rule takes effect Sunday and officials of the United Auto Workers said it goes against the collective bargaining agreement with the company, The Peoria (Ill.) Journal-Star reported Saturday.

Caterpillar's management is taking seriously rumors that the smoking ban might trigger a strike on Monday.

"It would be unfortunate and disappointing if some employees decide to strike over the company's decision to prohibit smoking on Caterpillar campuses," the manufacturer, based in East Peoria, Ill., said in a release. "Caterpillar cares about the health of its employees and wants to ensure that everyone who works on or visits Caterpillar property has access to the healthiest and safest work environment possible."

A UAW leader said employees believed smoking is an issue that was under negotiation and were taken aback by the imposition of what he said is a unilateral move by Caterpillar to ban smoking.

"We are not encouraging any work stoppage," Bill Scott, a UAW bargaining chairman told the Star-Journal.