Allen Williams (left), machine repairman, and Mike Kara (right), machinist, cheer during a rally for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers outside the Joliet Caterpillar plant Friday, May 11. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Mary Shesgreen, with Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice, walks through the crowd during a rally for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers outside the Joliet Caterpillar plant on May 11. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Bill Ronna (center), a machinist for 19 years, cheers during a rally for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers outside the Joliet Caterpillar plant Friday, May 11, 2012. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Joliet Mayor Thomas Giarrante addresses the crowd during a rally for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers outside the Joliet Caterpillar plant Friday, May 11, 2012. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Tom Buffenbarger, international president for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, stresses a point while speaking during a rally outside the Joliet Caterpillar plant Friday, May 11, 2012. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Steve Jones, directing business representative, pauses during a Solidarity and Community Support Rally for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers outside the Caterpillar plant Friday, May 11, 2012, at 2200 Route 6 in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Congressional candidate Tammy Duckworth addresses the crowd during a Solidarity and Community Support Rally for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers outside the Caterpillar plant Friday, May 11, 2012, at 2200 Route 6 in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Congressional candidate Bill Foster addresses the crowd during a Solidarity and Community Support Rally for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers outside the Caterpillar plant Friday, May 11, 2012, at 2200 Route 6 in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Phil Gruber (top left), general vice president of the Midwest territory for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, speaks to the crowd outside the Joliet Caterpillar plant Friday, May 11, 2012. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Will County Executive Larry Walsh addresses the crowd during a rally for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers outside the Joliet Caterpillar plant Friday, May 11, 2012. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

A passenger in a passing car waves to those gathered during a rally for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers outside the Joliet Caterpillar plant Friday, May 11, 2012. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Police officers and security gather at the main entrance during a rally for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers outside the Joliet Caterpillar plant Friday, May 11, 2012. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Machinists Joe Stachon (far left) and Lorna Cullison (second from left) display signs during a rally for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers outside the Joliet Caterpillar plant on May 11. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Steve Westhoff, a machinist for 38 years, stands during a rally for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers outside the Joliet Caterpillar plant Friday, May 11, 2012. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

A group with the Warehouse Workers for Justice stands along the road during a rally for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers outside the Joliet Caterpillar plant Friday, May 11, 2012. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

People gather during a Solidarity and Community Support Rally for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers outside the Caterpillar plant Friday, May 11, 2012, at 2200 Route 6 in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Members of the machinists union strike outside the Caterpillar plant off Route 6 Tuesday, May 1, 2012, in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

George Zartuche (left) and Ryan Daggett (right) react to honking horns of passing vehicles during a machinists union strike outside the Caterpillar plant off Route 6 Tuesday, May 1, 2012, in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

A no trespassing sign can be seen during a machinists union strike outside the Caterpillar plant off Route 6 Tuesday, May 1, 2012, in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Ernest Hatfield (at left) stands along Route 6 during a machinists union strike outside the Caterpillar plant Tuesday, May 1, 2012, in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Joe Nuske, chairman of the negotiating committee, is seen during a machinists union strike outside the Caterpillar plant off Route 6 Tuesday, May 1, 2012, in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Randy Luckey (left) and Kenneth Noble (right) line Route 6 during a machinists union strike outside the Caterpillar plant Tuesday, May 1, 2012, in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

George Zartuche yells at a driver turning into the main entrance during a machinists union strike outside the Caterpillar plant off Route 6 Tuesday, May 1, 2012, in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

George Zartuche (left) and Ryan Daggett (right) react to honking horns of passing vehicles during a machinists union strike outside the Caterpillar plant off Route 6 Tuesday, May 1, 2012, in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Randy Luckey (left) and Kenneth Noble (right) line Route 6 during a machinists union strike outside the Caterpillar plant Tuesday, May 1, 2012, in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Shorewood resident Mike "Hammer" Pesek holds an American flag as striking Caterpillar machinists from Local Lodge 851 vote on a new contract at the operating engineers hall Wednesday, May 30, 2012, at 1050 North East Frontage Rd. in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Dolton resident Donna Rogers is seen outside as striking Caterpillar machinists from Local Lodge 851 vote on a new contract at the operating engineers hall Wednesday, May 30, 2012, at 1050 North East Frontage Rd. in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Machinists are on strike at the Caterpillar plant in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Pontiac resident Anthony Thurston (top right) reads an article from the World Socialist Web Site as striking Caterpillar machinists from Local Lodge 851 vote on a new contract at the operating engineers hall Wednesday, May 30, 2012, at 1050 North East Frontage Rd. in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Striking Caterpillar machinists from Local Lodge 851 gather outside during a vote on a new contract at the operating engineers hall Wednesday, May 30, 2012, at 1050 North East Frontage Rd. in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Striking Caterpillar machinists from Local Lodge 851 gather outside during a vote on a new contract at the operating engineers hall Wednesday, May 30, 2012, at 1050 North East Frontage Rd. in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Morris resident Sharlyn Bokus is seen outside as striking Caterpillar machinists from Local Lodge 851 vote on a new contract at the operating engineers hall Wednesday, May 30, 2012, at 1050 North East Frontage Rd. in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Ron Shinogle works on a valve assembly for a wheel tractor dozer at the Caterpillar Plant Friday, June 1, 2012, in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Morris resident Greg Johnson is seen outside as striking Caterpillar machinists from Local Lodge 851 vote on a new contract at the operating engineers hall Wednesday, May 30, 2012, at 1050 North East Frontage Rd. in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Tim Flaherty, advanced component systems operations general manager, talks about the product line at the Caterpillar Plant Friday, June 1, 2012, in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Construction progresses on a new wash station at the Caterpillar Plant Friday, June 1, 2012, in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

A view of the main entrance at the Caterpillar Plant Friday, June 1, 2012, in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

A view of the main entrance at the Caterpillar Plant Friday, June 1, 2012, in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

A view of a sign outside the main entrance at the Caterpillar Plant Friday, June 1, 2012, in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

A cylinder hoist is lifted into an induction hardening machine at the Caterpillar Plant Friday, June 1, 2012, in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Ron Shinogle works on a valve assembly for a wheel tractor dozer at the Caterpillar Plant Friday, June 1, 2012, in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Rusty Dunn, spokesperson, corporate public affairs, is seen in the Caterpillar Plant Friday, June 1, 2012, in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Striking Caterpillar workers walk the picket line outside the Caterpillar plant in Joliet, Illinois, Wednesday, June 27, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Striking Caterpillar workers Mark Stanislaus, of Joliet, (left) and Bob Casarez, of Shorewood, stand at the picket line outside the Caterpillar plant in Joliet, Illinois, Wednesday, June 27, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Striking Caterpillar workers Bob Casarez, of Shorewood, (left) and Sean Gallaway, of Braidwood stand at the picket line outside the Caterpillar plant in Joliet, Illinois, Wednesday, June 27, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Caterpillar workers in Joliet were on strike from May 1 through Aug. 17 last year. | File Photo

Striking Caterpillar workers Mark Stanislaus, of Joliet, (left) and Bob Casarez, of Shorewood, stand at the picket line outside the Caterpillar plant in Joliet, Illinois, Wednesday, June 27, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Striking Caterpillar workers Mark Stanislaus, of Joliet, (left) and Bob Casarez, of Shorewood, stand at the picket line outside the Caterpillar plant in Joliet, Illinois, Wednesday, June 27, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Striking Caterpillar worker Tom Platt, of Joliet, walks back to his car after picking up his strike stipend check and some groceries at the headquarters for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Channahon, Illinois, Wednesday, June 27, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Striking Caterpillar worker Randy Yeates, of Joliet, accompanied by his son Russell, 12, talks about the on going strike after picking up his strike stipend check and some groceries at the headquarters for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Channahon, Illinois, Wednesday, June 27, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Striking Caterpillar workers (left to right) Mark Stanislaus, of Joliet, Bob Casarez, of Shorewood, Bruce Boaz, of Marseilles, and Sean Gallaway, of Braidwood, walk the picket line outside the Caterpillar plant in Joliet, Illinois, Wednesday, June 27, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Striking Caterpillar workers walk the picket line outside the Caterpillar plant in Joliet, Illinois, Wednesday, June 27, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Striking Caterpillar workers pick up their strike stipend check at the headquarters for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Channahon, Illinois, Wednesday, June 27, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Gov. Pat Quinn addresses striking machinists at the Caterpillar plant Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Gov. Pat Quinn (center) talks to striking machinists about his donation to the strikers' fund and to show support for the workers at the Caterpillar plant Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Gov. Pat Quinn (right) shakes hands with striking machinist Larry Elliott, of South Wilmington, (left) after Quinn made an appearance to the picket line to make a donation to the strikers' fund and to show support for the workers at the Caterpillar plant Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Gov. Pat Quinn (right) autographs a shirt for WIlmington resident Caleb Larson, 11, (left) as his younger brother Corban, 8, (below right), watches after Quinn made an appearance to the picket line to make a donation to the strikers' fund and to show support for the workers at the Caterpillar plant Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in Joliet. Caleb and Corban's father Don Larson, Jr., has been a machinist at the plant for 17.5 years. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

People gather around after Gov. Pat Quinn spoke about making a donation to the strikers' fund and to show support for the workers at the Caterpillar plant Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Gov. Pat Quinn (center) shakes hands with striking machinists before announcing a donation to the strikers' fund at the Caterpillar plant Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Striking machinists rally before the arrival of Gov. Pat Quinn at the Caterpillar plant Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media