Those affected by the most recent round of layoffs at the plant are members of UAW Local 402. That union represents assembly production workers as well as those with skilled trades at the Springfield plant, which builds medium-duty commercial trucks as well as cutaway vans for General Motors.
The number of trucks built on the plant’s main line was reduced from 97 to 70 last week, which resulted in at least 106 workers being laid off shortly after, not including the 26 that will be laid off by the end of today.
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“In order to realign production with the current demand for our products, we will be adjusting line rates at our Springfield Assembly plant. This action is normal due to the cyclical nature of our business,”said Navistar spokesperson Lyndi McMillan in an email to the News-Sun last week.