Caterpillar (NI) Ltd. – Hourly Negotiations

8 July 2022

• Thank you to all employees for working together safely this week to meet the needs of our customers.
• We are pleased industrial action has concluded at the Northern Ireland operations. This website will remain active, however will only be updated as required moving forward.
• Both the Springvale and Larne facilities will be on holiday shutdown next week.
• We hope all employees have a safe and enjoyable time off.

5 July 2022

• We were advised by Unite the Union that from Monday 4^th July 2022 they would end strike action at Caterpillar’s NI facilities.
• As such, we safely welcomed all employees back to work yesterday.
• The direct offer deadline has passed and we are pleased with the strong and favourable response.
• We look forward to a safe and productive work week in advance of the 11^th – 14^th July holiday shutdown.
• Have a great week!

1 July 2022

• Thanks for another week of strong production as we continue to meet customer commitments
• We look forward to welcoming everyone back to work on Monday
• Employees should watch the post for more information about returning to work, including car park logistics
• As employees return Monday, and we prepare for a shutdown the week of 11th July, we will have an additional focus on safety and quality
• Our direct offer is due by 5 p.m. Monday 4th July
• Employees with questions should contact their supervisor or the HR team

28 June 2022

• Caterpillar made direct offers to employees yesterday, 27th June
• We’re pleased to see a strong response rate so far and look forward to welcoming all employees back to work
• Employees not at work should watch their mail for the direct offer communication
• Employees with questions should contact their supervisor or the HR team

24 June 2022

• Our team continues to produce high-quality products and meet customer commitments.
• Additional employees who had been participating in industrial action returned to work this week. They were warmly welcomed back.
• Remember, the protected period of industrial action ends on 4th July 2022.
• We remain aware of picketing outside the hotel where our contingency volunteers supporting the Springvale facility are staying. The actions of Unite picketers have grown increasingly aggressive. This behaviour is unacceptable.
• We respect Unite’s right to picket peacefully; however, we will not accept behaviour that puts the safety of our employees at risk.
• Have a safe and relaxing weekend!

21 June 2022

• We were pleased to welcome additional returning strikers to work this week at both sites.
• Employees participating in industrial action can return to work at any time and are encouraged to do so no later than 4th July, when the 12-week protected period ends.
• Our new Caterpillar NI fact sheet has been posted – we encourage you to learn more about our business and our impact in the local community.

17 June 2022

• Thank you to our team for working together to support customer needs with a focus on safety and quality
• We were pleased to welcome returning strikers to work this week at both sites
• Employees participating in industrial action can return to work at any time and are encouraged to do so no later than 4^th July, when the 12-week protected period ends. We have warmly welcomed back those who have participated in industrial action
• The company offer is final. It is still live and can be re-balloted. We encourage employees to ask their Trade Union Reps to re-ballot the current offer
• Please stay safe, we appreciate this continues to be a challenging time for employees. Don’t forget we have a great employee assistance program (EAP) available if you need support during this time
  • Online: www.validium.com
  • Username: Caterpillar 
  • Password: worklife
  • By phone: 0800 9700500
• The company is aware of picketing which took place this week outside the hotel where salaried contingency volunteers supporting the Springvale facility are staying. 
  
• Volunteers encountered verbal abuse when leaving the hotel to travel to work at the Springvale facility.
• As a values-based organisation that keeps the safety and wellbeing of our employees as our number one focus and respects our community partners, this type of behaviour is unacceptable. Appropriate steps have been taken to protect the safety and wellbeing of our employees. The Union have been reminded of the standards expected at a picket in line with the code of conduct. 

14 June 2022

• We are halfway through another week of strong production
• Thanks to those employees actively at work and continuing to support our business
• We were pleased to welcome returning strikers to work this week at both sites
• We believe employees participating in  industrial action will receive their second strike payment from the union this week. As we enter into the next eight weeks of strike action, this is an important moment for employees participating in strike action to consider returning to work to avoid further financial loss.
• Safety remains our top priority, please conduct yourself in a safe manner and watch out for one another both inside and outside of work

10 June 2022

• Thank you for another safe week of strong production. Because of your efforts, we continue to successfully meet the needs of our customers. 
• The company has received notification the union intends a further eight weeks of planned strike action. 
• As the collective bargaining process is exhausted and a fresh ballot with majority support for continued industrial action has not taken place, employees participating in industrial action beyond 3^rd July will not be afforded the same level of legal protection they were during the first 12 weeks of industrial action.
• We encourage union members to speak to their union representative about the risk and potential consequences to employees who are unprotected and participating in industrial action beyond 3^rd July 2022.

7 June 2022

• In early May, Unite national officers contacted Caterpillar asking to meet for clarification on Customer-Driven Overtime (CDO), which Caterpillar agreed to. However, local and regional Unite officials indicated they would only meet to negotiate changes to the CDO proposal, so the meeting did not take place.
• As a reminder, CDO not only helps us compete for more business, it also offers opportunity to significantly increase take home pay. Additionally, CDO provides 30 days’ advanced notice of the need for OT and has a maximum cap of hours worked.
• Yesterday, Caterpillar was contacted by the Labour Relations agency to understand if they can be of any assistance at this time.
• Although we have completely exhausted the negotiations process, we again expressed our willingness to meet with Unite regarding clarification on the elements of our final offer, including misconceptions around CDO.
• Our offer is also still on the table and can be re-balloted.

3 June 2022

• Thanks to all employees for a safe, productive workweek.
• We continue to receive questions on the company offer and if it is final. As previously communicated, we believe the negotiations process has been completely exhausted. The offer is final, is still live and can be re-balloted.
• We encourage employees to ask their Trade Union Reps to re-ballot the current offer.
• We hope employees enjoyed the holiday break and look forward to welcoming all employees back Monday at both sites. Those who have been on industrial action have the legal right to return at any time, and we would be pleased to have you rejoin the team.

31 May 2022

• The Larne site welcomed all employees back this week and production is running safely. Due to the bank holiday, this will be a shorter work-week; however, the site looks forward to a productive few days meeting customer commitments.
• The Springvale facility is on holiday shutdown this week. A few key areas are operational and working hard to deliver for our customers.
• We hope employees enjoy a relaxing and safe bank holiday weekend with their families and friends.
• Thank you for the ongoing support. 

27 May 2022

• Our team continues to work safely and meet customer commitments - thank you!
• The Springvale facility is on holiday shutdown next week; however, a few key areas will be operational.
• Larne looks forward to welcoming all employees back on 30th May for a three-day workweek.

24 May 2022

• Production has commenced safely this week; we look forward to another good week!
• Thank you for your continued efforts to meet customer commitments.
• Safety remains our priority – please watch out for yourself and one another.
• If you have questions, please reach out to your supervisor or HR.

20 May 2022

• Thank you to employees for another safe and productive week.
• We remain committed to keeping our facilities operational throughout the duration of industrial action to protect our customers. 
• Employees who want to return to work at any time will be fully supported in doing so.
• We hope all employees have an enjoyable and safe weekend. 

17 May 2022

• Production is up and running safely this week
• Continue to keep safety at the forefront of everything we do
• Let’s work together for another good production week
• Thank you for your ongoing support

13 May 2022

• Thanks to those who have carried us through the first four weeks of industrial action. Production continues to run smoothly and we are meeting our customer commitments.
• All employees are welcome to return to work at any time and will be fully supported in doing so.
• There continues to be misinformation spread about the requirements of Customer-Driven Overtime. Please see our newest FAQ below and in the FAQ section.

I’ve seen claims that Customer-Driven Overtime (CDO) will require all employees to complete 24 hours of mandatory overtime each month with little to no notice. Is this accurate?

No, this is not accurate. CDO is intended to address temporary increases in demand. Without this flexibility, we will not be globally competitive.

Employees will not be asked to work more than 120 hours in a rolling 12-month period and CDO will only be needed in select months. Employees will be given a minimum of 30 days’ notice when CDO is needed. We understand things can come up and consideration will be given if an employee, for good reason, is unable to commit to a specific overtime date. Employees can also work to trade dates and commitments with co-workers.

CDO also comes with significant financial incentives for additional hours worked.

10 May 2022

Check out our newest FAQ, which is also posted in the FAQ section below.

Has Caterpillar refused to engage with Unite in resolving this dispute?

For more than a year (2Q 2021), Caterpillar had been in discussions with Unite to present a good and fair offer that recognises cost of living concerns while at the same time driving forward business competitiveness and agility within the workplace. ​

• In February 2022, the union failed to take a revised offer out to ballot. We continued to negotiate with Unite via the Labour Relations Agency. At the conclusion of four meetings with the union, we were clear the offer on the table was final.​
  ​
• In early May 2022, a Unite national representative reached out to Caterpillar, indicating our wage offer was acceptable and confirming their understanding of the business need for Customer-Driven Overtime (CDO). The representative asked to meet for additional clarification on CDO, which Caterpillar agreed to; however, the NI local and regional union officers indicated they would only meet to renegotiate CDO. Therefore, we respectfully declined, as we genuinely believe we have exhausted all offers and further discussions will not change that position.​
  ​
• Over the last three months, Caterpillar and Unite have successfully reached agreement at four other UK sites –Stockton, Sandiacre, Beeston and South Queensferry – with pay increases less than what we’re currently offering Caterpillar NI employees. Each of these agreements was approved by members.​

Our final offer is still on the table and can again be taken to vote. If you’re interested in this, we encourage you to talk to your Trade Union Reps.  ​

06 May 2022

• Thanks to the team for continuing to work together – and work safely – this week.
• The company has received notification the union intends a further four weeks of planned strike action. The company believes industrial action is not in the best interests of all parties.
• Remember, it is your right to continue coming to work and we will continue to fully support any employee who wishes to do so.
• We remain committed to keeping our facilities operational throughout the duration of industrial action to protect our customers. 

3 May 2022

• We hope all employees enjoyed the time off for Monday’s bank holiday
• We look forward to another safe and productive week and had a good start back today!

29 April 2022

• Thank you for working safely again this week and for your ongoing efforts and engagement to support the business during this time. 
• We were pleased to welcome our general managers to Larne and Springvale this week. Both were impressed with the teams’ safety focus, quality workmanship and ongoing commitment to our customers.
• We encourage everyone to review the FAQ section below for updates and to submit any additional questions via email: northern_ireland_facility_news@fgwilson.com. Please note, your personal email will be collected. Employees can also continue to call the Employee Hotline or speak to their supervisor or HR.
• We hope all employees have a safe and enjoyable bank holiday weekend.  

26 April 2022

• Thanks to those reporting for another week of work. Let’s continue to keep safety at the forefront of everything we do, both inside and outside the facility.
• We will continue to utilize this website as a communications channel for employees. Check back each Tuesday and Friday for updates.
• Remember the facility hotlines will also be updated one hour prior to shift start each day.

22 April 2022

• Thank you to the Springvale team for a safe, productive week; we look forward to more of the same next week
• We hope the Larne team has enjoyed their holiday break and look forward to welcoming them back on 25 April
• As we approach another week of industrial action, we want to again reiterate that this is Caterpillar’s final offer and it can still be taken to ballot
• We remind all employees – those picketing and those coming to work – to be respectful of one another and allow safe entry and exit to the facility 

19 April 2022

• The Larne facility is on holiday shutdown this week
• Springvale is excited to welcome its employees back for a three-day workweek
• Production is running smoothly and safely

15 April 2022

• We wish our employees a safe and restful Easter break and look forward to welcoming all employees back on 19 April (Springvale) and 25 April (Larne).
• Thanks for those working to support our customer needs with a focus on safety and quality.
• Employee hotlines have been established for each facility. Employees can dial in one hour ahead of their start time to hear any special. instructions for their site. Please see hotline numbers at the top of this website.

11 April 2022

• Thanks to those employees who reported to work as normal today.
• Production is safely up and running and we’ve seen strong attendance at both the Larne and Springvale facilities.
• There continues to be the misconception that the final offer has been taken off the table. To clarify, the final offer is still live and can again be taken out to ballot. Talk with your Trade Union Reps if you’re interested in a re-vote.
• Don’t forget we have a great employee assistance program (EAP) available if you need support during this challenging time. 
  • Online: www.validium.com
  • Username: Caterpillar 
  • Password: worklife
  • By phone: 0800 9700500

1. Is Caterpillar’s offer still live?
   Yes, Caterpillar’s offer is still on the table and can again be taken to vote. If you’re interested in this, we encourage you to talk to your Trade Union Reps.
   
   
2. Is this Caterpillar’s final offer?
   Yes, this is Caterpillar’s final offer. We have presented an offer that is good and fair and genuinely believe we have exhausted our offers.
   
   
3. Why are salaried and management employees being asked to work on the floor?
   Caterpillar has initiated industrial action contingency plans to continue operations at our facilities in the face of any business interruption and to deliver on our customer commitments.  Deploying Caterpillar’s trained office workers to safely work in operational roles during industrial action is a legitimate practice in response to industrial strike action.
   
   
4.  Can I return to work even if was originally planning to be out on industrial strike action?
   Yes, Caterpillar is prepared to welcome any employee who wants to work and has additional safety measures in place to ensure everyone feels comfortable. Should you have any difficulties accessing the site following participation in industrial strike action, please contact Security upon arrival.
   
   
5.  Why is Caterpillar trying to split the bargaining units? 
   Caterpillar is not attempting to split the bargaining unit. The ability to negotiate at a facility level is due to the significantly different business models and types of work at the Springvale and Larne facilities. This is not a union ‘busting’ concept; instead, this change will give the company the flexibility to address each site’s unique needs. A similar request was made by the union in the second quarter of 2021.
   
   
6. Is Customer-Driven Overtime compulsory?
   The purpose of Customer-Driven Overtime (CDO) is to give the business the flexibility needed to accept additional orders from customers that would not otherwise fit into our normal build schedule. CDO is an effort to make us more globally competitive from Larne while continuing to provide our customers with great products.
   
   We know the importance work-life balance plays in an employee’s choice of where to work and have supported this balance through our current Monday-Thursday, four-day workweek. We recognize our employees’ desire for flexibility and have created CDO to balance the needs of the business and the personal needs of our workforce.
   
   CDO does required employees to commit to additional work hours when asked, but the following guidelines will help ensure this can be done in a fair and balanced way.
   • CDO applies to Larne only; it will not impact Springvale. These are different businesses with different challenges and requirements. CDO is focused on helping us meet the unique customer needs in Larne.
   • Employees will be given 30+ days’ advanced notice when CDO is needed. CDO isn’t about fitting our normal build into more hours – it’s about giving Larne flexibility to attract and secure more business.
   • To help ensure personal balance, there’s a limit to the number of CDO hours an employee could be asked to work over a rolling 12-month period.
   • We have included a significant per hour pay increase for additional time worked. This is in addition to the 9% base salary increase we have included in our final offer.
   • Consideration will be given if an employee, for good reason, is unable to work the necessary hours.
   
   If you have additional questions on CDO, please reach out to your leaders or the HR team.
   
   
7. Has Caterpillar refused to engage with Unite in resolving this dispute?
   For more than a year (2Q 2021), Caterpillar had been in discussions with Unite to present a good and fair offer that recognises cost of living concerns while at the same time driving forward business competitiveness and agility within the workplace. ​
   • In February 2022, the union failed to take a revised offer out to ballot. We continued to negotiate with Unite via the Labour Relations Agency. At the conclusion of four meetings with the union, we were clear the offer on the table was final.​​
   • In early May 2022, a Unite national representative reached out to Caterpillar, indicating our wage offer was acceptable and confirming their understanding of the business need for Customer-Driven Overtime (CDO). The representative asked to meet for additional clarification on CDO, which Caterpillar agreed to; however, the NI local and regional union officers indicated they would only meet to renegotiate CDO. Therefore, we respectfully declined, as we genuinely believe we have exhausted all offers and further discussions will not change that position.​
     
   • Over the last three months, Caterpillar and Unite have successfully reached agreement at four other UK sites –Stockton, Sandiacre, Beeston and South Queensferry – with pay increases less than what we’re currently offering Caterpillar NI employees. Each of these agreements was approved by members.
   
   Our final offer is still on the table and can again be taken to vote. If you’re interested in this, we encourage you to talk to your Trade Union Reps.
   
   
8. I’ve seen claims that Customer-Driven Overtime (CDO) will require all employees to complete 24 hours of mandatory overtime each month with little to no notice. Is this accurate?
   No, this is not accurate. CDO is intended to address temporary increases in demand. Without this flexibility, we will not be globally competitive.
   
   Employees will not be asked to work more than 120 hours in a rolling 12-month period and CDO will only be needed in select months. Employees will be given a minimum of 30 days’ notice when CDO is needed. We understand things can come up and consideration will be given if an employee, for good reason, is unable to commit to a specific overtime date. Employees can also work to trade dates and commitments with co-workers.
   
   CDO also comes with significant financial incentives for additional hours worked.