The Nation - News from Dec. 8, 1985

Caterpillar Tractor Co. announced that it will spend more than $600 million to automate its 21 plants around the world, eliminating about 10,600 jobs in the next four years, or about 20% of its work force. The financially beleaguered firm in Peoria, Ill., is the world’s largest manufacturer of construction equipment and employs about 53,000 people worldwide.