CHICAGO (Reuters) - United Auto Workers members at Caterpillar Inc. (CAT.N) on Sunday voted to reject the construction equipment maker's contract proposal, the UAW said.þþThe union represents more than 8,000 active Caterpillar workers in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Colorado and Tennessee, and more than 20,000 retirees.þþThe current contract, which had been extended, was due to expire at midnight on Sunday. The UAW, however, told workers to report for work on Monday.þþCaterpillar had said the proposal was its last and best offer. Details of the proposal were not released, and details of Sunday's vote were not immediately available.þþ``We will convene the UAW-Caterpillar Central Bargaining Committee as soon as practical to assess the situation and plan our next steps,'' said UAW Vice President Cal Rapson in a statement.þþ``In the meantime, UAW-Caterpillar workers should continue working their usual schedules,'' Rapson said.þþPeoria, Illinois-based Caterpillar, the world's largest maker of construction equipment, has been negotiating with the union for more than four months.þþ``We're disappointed that our employees have rejected what we believed to be a fair, reasonable and comprehensive offer that, if ratified, would have provided a more certain future for our employees and communities,'' Chris Glynn, Caterpillar's director of labor relations, said in a statement.þþ``We will take time to assess the situation, and our hope is that employees will also use this time to reflect on our proposal and weigh its merits against other opportunities that exist within our industry and market,'' Glynn said. ``We believe, with time, they will find it very competitive.'' þþ
Source: NY Times
