Navistar moving its $100 million payroll from Fort Wayne within 3 years

FORT WAYNE – Navistar International Corp. on Tuesday announced plans to “phase down various operations” in Fort Wayne over the next two to three years.

The carefully worded message was delivered separately – but almost simultaneously – Tuesday to local employees, local elected officials, and union leaders sitting down with company representatives in Lisle, Ill., during the first in a series of meetings toward a new labor agreement.

The current contract with United Auto Workers members at six Navistar locations expires at midnight Oct. 1.

Some observers see the exit as inevitable, considering the Warrenville, Ill.-based company’s strategic plan calls for consolidating operations. Lisle is first choice for that location, an official told The Journal Gazette late last month.