US: Tower to close Greenville plant

摘要

TOWER Automotive has decided to shut its Greenville facility in Michigan by the end of 2006 as part of its restructuring programme, reports Grand Rapids Press. The component supplier had filed for chapter 11 federal bankruptcy protection more than a year ago. Around 20% of the Greenville workforce has already been laid off since the bankruptcy filing. The proposed closure could result in the further loss of 225 jobs - 195 hourly and 30 salaried employees. Tower also intends to approach the US Bankruptcy Court with an application to nullify its labour contracts. However, Greenville's contract is not reported to be part of the request. Even with the factory's closing, the local contract is expected to stay in effect until its expiration in July.