4,000 (6 states) strike, but Navistar keeps on trucking

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Chicago Sun Times

BY FRANCINE KNOWLES [e-mail]

As several thousand workers picketed Navistar International Corp. work sites Wednesday, the world's fourth-largest truck maker said the strike called by the United Auto Workers a day earlier hasn't wreaked havoc on operations.

"We've taken steps to assure our customers will be served," said Roy Wiley, spokesman for the Warrenville-based company.

The UAW launched the strike covering 4,000 UAW members Tuesday at Navistar facilities in six states, including its Melrose Park plant, which has roughly 500 hourly workers. The union, whose contract with the company expired Oct. 1, accused the company of unfair labor practices.

On Wednesday, Ford Motor Co. said it was relying on Navistar-built diesel engines from inventory for use in Super Duty pickups. The diesel engines are produced in Indianapolis at one of the plants affected by the strike. The Super Duty, which includes the F-250, comprises about 40 percent of sales for Ford's F-Series trucks, the top-selling line of vehicles in the United States. Ford is ''evaluating the short-term impact'' of the strike, a spokeswoman said.

Read more: http://www.suntimes.com/business/619265,CST-FIN-Navistar25.article