GM closing Lordstown assembly plant, cutting 14,700 jobs in North America

CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) - General Motors announced Monday plans to close five U.S. and Canadian plants in 2019, including the Lordstown assembly plant in Warren.

In addition to the plant closures, approximately 14,700 jobs will be slashed as an effort to improve business performance.

“The actions we are taking today continue our transformation to be highly agile, resilient and profitable, while giving us the flexibility to invest in the future,” said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. “We recognize the need to stay in front of changing market conditions and customer preferences to position our company for long-term success.”

By closing the five plants, which also include facilities in Canada, two in Michigan, and a propulsion plant in Maryland, GM is expected to increase automotive free-flow cash by $6 billion annually by 2020.

Ohio’s politicians weighed in on the news.

I am deeply frustrated with General Motors’ decision to shut down its Lordstown plant and disappointed with how the hardworking employees there have been treated throughout this process. During frank conversations with GM CEO Mary Barra after the announcement that GM cut a shift at the plant due to the weakening market for the Chevy Cruze, I urged her to look to the Lordstown plant for production of other vehicles and to make a public commitment to the plant and its workforce. During today’s conversation, I pressed GM again to provide new opportunities to the Lordstown workers and take advantage of the skilled workforce there. I once again urged GM to make a commitment to bring a new product to the plant, especially since GM is proposing to build a number of new electric vehicles. In the short term, I urged GM to at least reallocate some of the production and employees to the Toledo GM plant. I will continue doing everything I can to help the Lordstown workers during this transition. For decades, workers in the Mahoning Valley have made a commitment to GM, and today GM let Northeast Ohio down.

According to GM, the 6.2 million-square-foot facility that opened in 1966 has over 1,600 hourly and salaried employees on one shift.

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