JOLIET, Ill. -- The Caterpillar Tractor Co. Joliet Plant, which once employed more than 6,000 workers, will place 2,000 workers on indefinite layoff beginning Feb. 7.
About 1,700 employees, who are classified as hourly workers, will be laid off and another 300 weekly employees will be cut, company officials said Monday.
The layoffs will bring to 5,500 the total number of Caterpillar employees out of work in the Joliet area. As a result of the layoffs, the plant, which once employed more than 6,000 workers will have only 800 employees.
Although workers at Joliet are represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, company officials blamed last year's United Auto Workers strike for its layoffs.
Most Caterpillar plant workers are represented by UAW, officials said.
The Joliet Plant manufactures hydrostatic transmissions and handles welding and fabricating of bulldozer blades.
