WARRENVILLE, Ill. (December 16, 2007) The seven-week strike ended today at International Truck and Engine Corporation, a subsidiary of Navistar International Corporation (Other OTC: NAVZ), as members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) approved new three-year labor agreements that will yield operational flexibility and cost improvements at nine company locations.
The contract was ratified by a majority of UAW members in a vote conducted this weekend. The new contracts take effect immediately and run until October 1, 2010.
“We expect the new agreements to result in operational and cost improvements at these facilities while maintaining a good quality of life for our employees and retirees,” said Dan Ustian, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Navistar. “This deal represents a positive step forward for these facilities.”
The agreements were ratified after more than two years of periodic negotiations between company and UAW leaders. The UAW chose to strike on October 23, 2007, and the company utilized its diversified operations and resources effectively so that customers were unaffected by the UAW strike.
"With extraordinary efforts and planning, we met all delivery schedules and as a result, we are well positioned as a business going forward,” Ustian said.
Navistar’s preliminary unaudited manufacturing cash and marketable securities balance (non-GAAP measure) as of October 31, 2007 was $695 million.
“We have maintained our focus on executing our business strategies,” Ustian said. “We have the liquidity and lines of credit available to continue to fund our growth plans to capitalize on market opportunities. The new contract will help the company to reach its previously announced goals for 2009 revenues and operating segment margins.”
Outstanding products and a competitive cost structure will be the basis for Navistar’s continued success, Ustian continued. “All our operations must be structured to succeed against any competitor and in any market condition. Our ability to compete effectively is important to both our shareholders and to our employees. True job security comes only through competitiveness.”
The following summarizes some key competitive changes and provisions in the new contracts:
- Significant improvements in operational flexibility and cost structure, while maintaining operational improvements from prior contracts
- Elimination of restrictive and costly minimum employment level requirements
- Increased health care cost sharing
- Ability to shed non-core work
- Improved new hire package
- Ability to close/sell specific locations if business needs dictate
- “Living Operating Agreement” that facilitates ongoing improvements
In addition, the UAW has dropped all unfair labor practice charges previously filed with the National Labor Relations Board, which the UAW communicated were the basis of its strike.
The UAW represents approximately 3,700 employees at nine International facilities in Indianapolis, Ind. (engine assembly and foundry), Melrose Park, Ill. (engine assembly and engine engineering), Springfield, Ohio (truck assembly), Atlanta, York (Pa.) and Dallas (parts distribution centers) and Fort Wayne, Ind. (truck engineering). Total worldwide employment at the company is more than 16,000.
Based in Lisle, Illinois, International Motors, LLC* creates solutions that deliver greater uptime and productivity to our customers throughout the full operation of our commercial vehicles. We build International® trucks and engines and IC Bus® school and commercial buses that are as tough and as smart as the people who drive them. We also develop Fleetrite®aftermarket parts. In everything we do, our vision is to accelerate the impact of sustainable mobility to create the cleaner, safer world we all deserve. As of 2021, we joined Scania, MAN and Volkswagen Truck & Bus in TRATON GROUP, a global champion of the truck and transport services industry. To learn more, visit www.International.com.
Media contact:
Nick Smith
nick.smith@navistar.com
480-398-6511
Investor contact:
Marvin Kalberlah
marvin.kalberlah@navistar.com
630-432-5179
*International Motors, LLC is d/b/a International Motors USA LLC in Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, and Utah.