JOLIET, IL—Caterpillar Inc. has reached a tentative six-year deal with the union representing almost 800 striking workers at the company’s assembly plant here. The workers had been on strike since early May seeking better wages and health care benefits.
WINDSOR, ON—CAW members at Chrysler’s assembly plant here have voted almost unanimously in support of a strike as a way to back workers’ contact demands. The union’s expires in mid-September.
EVANSTON, IL—Following several years of losses, industrial employment in Wisconsin increased by a half percent over the past 12 months. Wisconsin gained 3,896 industrial jobs between July 2011 and July 2012.
DETROIT—For automakers, one of the biggest headaches posed by infotainment systems is instant obsolescence. With its three- to five-year product cycles, the auto industry simply can’t keep up with the short product cycles of smart phone makers. New applications produced for smart phones often aren’t compatible with the dated software and hardware found in autos.
DONALD, OR—GK Machine Inc., a manufacturer of custom farm and industrial equipment, is seeking 50 skilled workers, including welders, fabricators and laser operators.
MEAD, OK—A worker was killed here last week after a plasma cutter ignited flammable vapors, triggering an explosion at a heavy-equipment assembly plant.
ROCKFORD, IL—Woodward Inc., a manufacturer of pumps, valves, actuators and other aerospace components, will invest more than $200 million to build a new assembly plant here, creating 660 jobs over the next five years.
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