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GM supplier in Janesville to cut 300 jobs
(Wisconsin State Journal, The (KRT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) May 17--The job toll has now topped 1,200 for Janesville's auto industry-related work force.
Lear Corp., which makes seats and interior trim for the sport utility vehicles assembled at the Janesville General Motors plant, has told the state of Wisconsin it will cut more than 300 positions as of July 14.
It is the third company to reduce jobs in connection with GM's recent decision to eliminate one of two shifts at the Janesville plant because of sluggish sales of the Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GM Yukon and Yukon XL SUVs. Seven-hundred-fifty-six hourly jobs at the GM plant will end.
"Certainly, everytime a major employer in the community lays off employees, it's of concern to us and to the local economy. We certainly feel for the families of those laid off," said Jay Winzenz, director of administrative services for the city of Janesville.
The exact number of job cuts at Lear is a bit uncertain. The state was notified that 336 positions will be cut while the city was told 290 hourly workers and 25 salaried employees -- a total of 315 -- will be affected.
Neither officials at Lear nor of United Auto Workers Local 95 in Janesville, which represents the hourly employees, could be reached Friday.
The Lear factory has 840 employees, according to numbers given to the city of Janesville this year.
Other related companies that have announced plans to decrease staff include:
--Logistics Services (LSI), which brings parts to the GM plant, will end 132 positions.
--Flint Special Services, which provides trucking services, is cutting 14 jobs.
"We hope the local economy is going to be able to absorb these individuals and they will be able to find other good-paying jobs within the community," Winzenz said.
He said the city and Forward Janesville, a private community development organization, plan to hold a summit this summer "to talk about Janesville and its strengths" and to figure out which industries to target to bring new jobs to Rock County and how to go about doing that.
Production at the Janesville GM plant will be suspended next week because of a shortage of parts as a result of strike involving American Axle and Manufacturing; however a tentative deal between American Axle and UAW was reached late Friday that, pending a vote by union members, could end the bitter 80-day walkout.
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Copyright (c) 2008, The Wisconsin State Journal
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