Temporary shutdowns hit 1,550 at GM locally

2/14/2009

General Motors Corp. has announced temporary shutdowns of two area Powertrain plants to deal with what it calls volume adjustments, impacting nearly 1,550 workers.

Approximately 100 workers at GM s Defiance Powertrain plant will be laid off temporarily beginning Monday, and another 1,200 workers will be temporarily laid off the week of Feb. 23, GM spokesman Wanda Wellman said yesterday.

At GM s Toledo Powertrain plant, the second and third shifts also will be laid off during the week of Feb. 23, affecting about 250 workers she said.

The Toledo plant s first-shift employees will continue producing the rear-wheel-drive, six-speed transmissions made there. The Defiance plant produces parts for several transmission and engine plants.