General Motors (GM) to lay off 560 workers to retool Romulus engine plant

Layoffs will begin in August and will last until the plant is back in operation in late 2015

General Motors (GM) said Friday (June 7) it will lay off about 560 hourly and temporary workers at its Romulus Engine Plant near Detroit over the next nine months while it retools the plant for a new V-6 engine that will come online in late 2015, reports The Detroit News. About 430 hourly workers, plus about 130 temporary workers, will be affected by the layoffs, which will begin in August and will last until the plant is back in operation in late 2015, said GM spokesperson Bob Wheeler. GM's human resources department will help identify jobs for the 141 salaried workers affected by the move at other company locations, said Wheeler. Workers can file for unemployment benefits and will receive supplemental pay during the layoffs which, for most workers, will equal about 75-80% of their pay. Laid off temporary workers will not receive this extra support, said Wheeler.