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Published: Mar 07, 2008 12:30 AM
Modified: Mar 07, 2008 02:41 AM
 

Strike at axle maker idles a 7th GM site

DETROIT - General Motors shut down another plant Thursday because of a strike at key parts supplier American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings, even as labor talks resumed between American Axle and the United Auto Workers.

GM temporarily idled its Wentzville, Mo., assembly plant after it ran out of parts from American Axle. The plant employs nearly 2,000 people and makes the GMC Savana and Chevrolet Express vans.

About 3,600 UAW workers at five American Axle plants in Michigan and New York walked off their jobs Feb. 26 after contract talks broke down over wages and other issues. The resulting parts shortage has forced GM and some parts suppliers to shut down plants in the U.S. and Canada.

The Detroit-based parts supplier makes axles, drive shafts and stabilizer bars for GM's flagship pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles and vans. GM, which spun off American Axle in 1994, makes up about 80 percent of its business.

The strike has forced GM to temporarily shut down six plants in the U.S. and Canada. In addition, an Indiana plant that makes Hummers under contract to GM was closed. GM said that including the plants that are set to close Monday, about 19,000 manufacturing workers have been affected by the shutdowns, or nearly a quarter of its North American manufacturing work force.

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