Caterpillar Cuts Jobs, Redirects Employees

Lynn Schenkman

Peoria, Ill. -- Economic strains have led Caterpillar Inc. to eliminate approximately 500 jobs from the large power systems division, products of which include truck, machine, electric and marine engines, large power generator sets, and engines for the petroleum industry. Caterpillar spokesman Ben Cordani said all employees affected will be considered for other positions within the company.

"This is not a mass layoff," Cordani told the Peoria Journal Star. "It’s a restructuring that will impact some jobs." Using the company’s personnel redeployment process, Caterpillar will complete the restructuring by the middle of the year. Cordani said the company has asked division heads to keep the affected employees in mind when filling jobs and to look for common skill sets to ensure employees stay with Caterpillar. Plants that include large power systems divisions are Mossville, Ill.; Pontiac, Ill.; Lafayette, Ind.; Griffin, Ga.; Jefferson, Ga.; Greenville, S.C.; and Kiel, Germany.