GM to close Grand Rapids metal plant

Robert Snell / The Detroit News

General Motors Corp. will close its metal and die plant in Grand Rapids by the end of 2009, the automaker announced today, a reaction to a slump in sales of pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles.

The move, which affects 1,340 hourly and 180 salaried workers, targets a plant that produces parts for full-size pickups and full- and mid-size SUVs, sales of which are down about 40 percent this year, GM spokesman Tony Sapienza said.

The announcement comes hours after GM announced told workers in Janesville, Wis., the plant there would close by December –earlier than expected. GM officials had said in June the plant, along with three others, would close by 2010.

The Grand Rapids workers are eligible for about 48 weeks of supplemental unemployment. After that, if workers have not transferred to another GM location, the workers can go into the company’s jobs bank.