More bad news for americans.
9/27/2007
The Trucker News Services
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Navistar International Corp. on Wednesday notified workers at its Springfield, Ohio, assembly plant that they could be laid off beginning Monday, Oct. 1, which is the expiration date for the contract between the company and the United Auto Workers Union. Orders for medium-duty trucks that would normally be sent to Springfield would be channeled to a non-union assembly plant in Escobedo Mexico. The Warrenville-based company said the move is intended to protect customers from delays in delivery if the union goes on strike when its contract with Navistar expires. “We have to assure that customers get the trucks they ordered from us,” an unidentified Navistar spokesman said. The layoff would affect 768 workers at Springfield, but not an estimated 500 employees in Springfield’s paint and cab assembly shops. Those employees, along with 700 more at Navistar’s engine plant in west suburban Melrose Park, produce components that are shipped to a truck assembly plant in Escobedo, Mexico. Navistar’s action did not catch union workers completely off guard. Navistar laid off Springfield assembly line workers in 2002 in the midst of contract negotiations. Nevertheless, Charlie Hayden, president of UAW Local 402 in Springfield, said he’s disappointed and considers the layoff notice a sign that the company lacks confidence that negotiators will reach a tentative agreement before the current contract expires. “It doesn’t show much faith in the bargaining to reach an agreement,” he said. “If they did, they wouldn’t want to shut the plant down.” The union authorized a strike against the company in July, but has so far given no indication that a walk-off is imminent. Hayden said he hopes the layoffs will be canceled as part of a new contract deal. “We’re going to do our best to get that agreement,” Hayden said. Truck orders to Springfield have slowed significantly in recent months after a surge of orders in 2006 triggered by new emissions rules on diesel engines that drove up the price of 2007 models. Navistar is looking for UAW members to shoulder more of the cost for health insurance and to agree to revised work rules that would give the company more control over employees’ duties and permit greater use of contract employees in unionized plants. Union members say they want commitments from the company that it will keep unionized plants open in coming years.
Everything is slowly moving to mexico, and dont forget about our freight going to mexican truckers, only taking more food off the plate of the ameican truck driver.
