TORONTO, June 3 (Reuters) - Navistar International Corp.'s striking Canadian workers, despite the threat of the plant closure hanging over their heads, were prepared for a long dispute as their union waited on Monday to hear from the company.
"The ball is in their court. We made a decision and we're very comfortable with it. We're waiting for their phone call," said Bob Chernecki, assistant to Canadian Auto Workers President Buzz Hargrove.
About 600 workers at Navistar's Chatham, Ontario, truck plant set up picket lines early on Saturday after the truck maker and the union failed to reach a new contract agreement. Job security and wages were the main stumbling blocks.
Negotiations between the company and the union began on April 26. No further talks between the two sides are scheduled, Chernecki said.
The key obstacle to reaching an agreement was the future of the truck plant in western Ontario, near the Detroit and Windsor border. Earlier this year, the company said it might close the plant, which makes 39 heavy trucks a day, if major cost savings are not found.
Despite this threat, Chernecki said, the union was not concerned about the company's decision to transfer production to its Escobedo plant in Mexico because of the strike.
"There comes a point in these things that the workers have to make a decision. Right now we are the lowest cost, highest producing product in the Navistar system. If they want to close the plant and lose that jewel, I suppose it's their choice," said Chernecki.
The company was not available for comment.
($1=$1.53 Canadian)