Caterpillar Must Reimburse Ex-Strikers

Caterpillar Inc. must pay former strikers who missed out on popcorn and other snacks the company gave to workers who remained on the job or who crossed picket lines during the strike. The Peoria, Ill., tractor company discriminated against strikers between June 1994 and December 1995 by providing free meals, ice cream, beverages, flu shots and T-shirts to nonstrikers and temporary help, violating the National Labor Relations Act, the National Labor Relations Board said. The NLRB didn’t specify how much Caterpillar should pay, but it said it will be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. No one at Caterpillar headquarters was available for comment. An NLRB official said the company has indicated it will dispute the matter. Caterpillar shares were unchanged at $76.75 on the New York Stock Exchange.