GM to Shut Down 6 Assembly Plants for Week, Idling 23,500

DETROIT — General Motors Corp., saddled with large car inventories, said today that it will temporarily close six assembly plants, idling 23,500 workers.

Plants in Michigan, Missouri, New York and Canada will close Monday for one week, according to Jim Smidebush and Nettie Seabrooks of the GM public relations staff.

The auto maker also plans to shut its Oklahoma City plant from April 13 through April 17, idling 5,500 workers.

But because the plant had already been scheduled to be closed on Good Friday, most of the workers will be paid for a full, 36-hour workweek, said Steve Featherston, vice president of the United Auto Workers local representing the workers.

GM’s car sales through March 20 totaled 713,388, down 25.4% from the year-ago period.