Firm amends plan to close Bluffton plant

4/28/2006

BLUFFTON - The planned closing of Tower Automotive Inc.'s facility in this Allen County village will be put on hold, at least temporarily, if there is written proof the United Auto Workers has withdrawn a strike threat, a company spokesman said yesterday.

Plant manager Jeff Joseph notified state officials this week that layoffs of the plant's 210 union workers would start May 13 and conclude by June 30 because the firm it planned to move work elsewhere "due to significant uncertainty regarding labor relations."

Company spokesman Joe Kirik declined yesterday to say which plants would pick up the work. It has locations in Bellevue and Upper Sandusky. Tower, of Novi, Mich., which builds vehicle frames, filed bankruptcy last year.