GM to close its Grand Rapids plant

Another day – another GM plant closing. GM announced today that it will be closing its Grand Rapids plant by the end of 2009. The move comes (obviously) due to sluggish sales in the pickup and SUV market. The closing will affect 1,340 hourly workers and 180 salaried workers.

The plant is responsible for producing parts for full-sized pickups and SUVs as well as mid-size SUVs. Workers will be eligible for 48 weeks of supplemental unemployment. According to GM’s spokesman Tony Sapienza, sales are down 40 percent this year.

GM said yesterday that it will be closing its Janesville Wisconsin plant by December. It had originally planned to close the plant in 2010. Its Moraine, Ohio plant, responsible for producing the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy and the Saab 9-7X, will also close by the end of this year.

 

Source: Detroit News