The United Auto Workers have been busy bees lately. Their next target could be Caterpillar, the world’s largest manufacturer of construction equipment:

The United Auto Workers on Sunday voted by an overwhelming margin to allow leadership to call a strike against Caterpillar Inc. if a new contract cannot be hammered out.

UAW members at seven locals – including Local 974 in East Peoria – voted by a 94 percent majority to authorize a strike if necessary. The union did not give vote totals.

The existing six-year contract expires March 1, and UAW and Caterpillar have been negotiating since Dec. 15. Neither side has gone public with details from the talks, which are taking place in Caterpillar’s Building CV in East Peoria and are scheduled to resume Monday.

Caterpillar is staying quiet on the issue. We’ll keep you updated at this develops.