GM announced Monday it would close a Michigan metal stamping plant and also close an SUV plant in Wisconsin earlier than scheduled, reports the AP and MSNBC.
Employees at the Grand Rapids Metal Center in suburban Wyoming were told Monday that it will close by the end of 2009. There are about 1,340 hourly and 180 salaried workers at the metal stamping plant, GM spokesman Tony Sapienza said.
The workers at the Janesville, Wis. SUV plant were also informed Monday that production will halt Dec. 23, originally scheduled to close by 2010. The earlier closure of the plant is due to declining sales, GM spokesman Chris Lee said. About 1,200 employees work there.
Workers at both plants will get most of their pay from the company and unemployment benefits for up to two years under their union contract. They will have the option of transferring to other GM factories if jobs are open.
The Janesville SUV plant opened in 1919 and is GM’s oldest. GM also recently announced it will close an SUV plant in Moraine, Ohio by Dec. 23. About 1,100 employees from the Moraine plant will lose their jobs through the closure.
