Navistar to phase down Fort Wayne operations

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Mayor Tom Henry announced at a Tuesday afternoon news conference that Navistar has told its Fort Wayne employees that it will phase down operations here over the next two to three years.

The company which at one time employed 10,000 people in Fort Wayne is looking to consolidate its operations. It's likely Navistar will choose Lisle, Illinois, although a final deal has not yet been worked out.

The truck design and technology center in Fort Wayne employs about 1,400 people. The company's products, parts, and services are sold through a network of nearly 1,000 dealer outlets in the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Mexico and more than 60 dealers in 90 countries throughout the world.

Mayor Henry told reporters that he is working with Navistar to find a way for Fort Wayne to have some company presence in the community.

"Right now we have $100 million a year at stake. That's why we are working so hard to keep as many Navistar employees here as possible. It may not be the situation we have today, it probably won't be, but we are very very optimistic that we will have a continued relationship with Navistar," said Mayor Tom Henry, (D) Fort Wayne.

Mayor Henry said he will have more information about the company's future in Fort Wayne at some point on Wednesday.

Workers leaving the Fort Wayne Navistar plant on Tuesday admitted it was upsetting and dissapointing to hear the news.

"It's just unfortunate they are leaving, we have a lot of good people here. It's a concern. They mentioned we have two or three years, so I'll have some time to find a replacement job," said Hans Swift, Navistar employee.

Meanwhile, negotiations began Tuesday between the UAW and Navistar regarding a master contract. Fort Wayne workers would be affected by the contract. On Monday, Navistar unveiled a website designed to update information on that subject.