Wheat is a member of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 974 and has worked at Caterpillar for almost 30 years. He has a long history as a militant union fighter. He is a founding member and central leader of the Tactical Response Team, also known as Blue Shirts, which grew out of the struggles and strikes by the UAW against Caterpillar's antiunion drive over the past decade.

Wheat was initially suspended by Caterpillar December 23 and told the action was pending termination for allegedly threatening a high-ranking Caterpillar official. Two days earlier, Wheat had been confronted on the job by Caterpillar's East Peoria vice-president, Jim Despain, initially over Despain's objection to the health-and-safety T-shirt Wheat was wearing. Despain told Wheat that the plant has an excellent safety record. Wheat responded by inquiring about John Stein, another employee who had died earlier that week as a result of a workplace injury.

According to Wheat, after walking away, Despain returned and told Wheat, "Get this in your head. Don't ever talk to me like that and never use that body language to me or else."

Caterpillar has contested Wheat's application for unemployment benefits. On January 22, the unionist was notified that the Illinois Department of Employment Services has denied his application for compensation pending further investigation.

While defending Wheat, his union local has requested documentation the company claims it is basing the firing on, but has not received any. On January 9 Wheat attended the UAW Local 974 General Council meeting to state his case and request the local make a fact sheet available for distribution to union members. He also requested that the union provide an attorney to help fight his termination. Two days later, Wheat was informed that an assistant to UAW International vice-president Richard Shoemaker turned down his request for an attorney.

Supporters of Wheat's fight initiated a petition addressed to Shoemaker and began circulating it throughout Caterpillar plants in the Peoria area, requesting that the UAW International provide Wheat with an attorney.

"In the first 10 days, 300 to 400 Cat workers signed the petition," said Tom Smith, a member of Wheat's local. "Even a number of those who crossed the picket line during the strike have signed the petition. They know that the company dumped on them right after we came back from the strike. They realize the error they made and that their only hope is to try and reconstruct the union."  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home