Final Day for Hundreds of West Mich. GM Workers
WYOMING, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - It's D-day for hundreds of West Michigan workers.
The GM stamping plant in Wyoming is shutting down full production Friday just before 3p.m. At that time workers will be streaming across that bridge for the very final time.
The company tells NEWSCHANNEL 3 it's very a sad day and closing the plant is not a reflection of the workforce or the work put out over the many decades.
For years all of the machines have been stamping out parts for vehicles. General Motors tells NEWSCHANNEL 3 all the way to the end here the plant's been working on a number of vehicles in GM's lineup, but that all ends Friday.
The work being shipped out to other plants in Michigan and across the country. It's long been believed that geography played a factor in this closing because the plant was isolated. But the company says that's not the case. It's just part of the major restructuring during this transition period.
This is the final day for close to 500 people. While production ceases, tool and die operations still continue. A couple hundred employees will continue to build dies for the new Chevy Volt. The plant still with the capacity to do so and many estimate that work will cease in the first week or so in December when the plant will likely close for good.
Friday's news comes just a couple of days ahead of GM bracing for bankruptcy. If GM can get operational, labor, and financial plans in place now, experts say it will get out of bankruptcy faster.
GM's board of directors is beginning two days of meetings to discuss what happens between now and Monday. The big issues now are deadline for restructuring and what looks like the start of a new era for General Motors.
