GM idles Delta Township plant, cuts Warren plant shift

Robert Snell / The Detroit News

A parts shortage caused by a strike at an Indian supplier is forcing General Motors Co. to temporarily idle a Lansing-area factory and cut a shift at a Warren transmission plant.

GM's assembly plant in Delta Township will temporarily cease production next week while the Warren plant will go from two shifts to one starting Nov. 2. Neither shift is operating today or tomorrow, a GM spokesman said.

"Hopefully that will be the extent of it," GM spokesman Chris Lee said. "We continue to monitor the situation."

The closings are related to a strike at Rico Auto Industries Ltd., according to a source familiar with the situation. The strike, which started Sept. 21, already has forced Ford Motor Co. to temporarily idle a plant in Canada, according to Bloomberg News.

GM would not identify the parts supplier that has caused the shortage.

The closure affects about 2,700 workers at the Delta Township plant, which produces the Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia sport utility vehicles.

GM is shifting production of the Chevrolet Traverse from its plant in Spring Hill, Tenn., to Delta Township near Lansing and is scheduled to add a third shift of production in April 2010.

There are about 760 workers at the Warren plant, which makes transmissions for several GM models.

Some Rico workers in India have walked out demanding the reinstatement of 16 colleagues suspended for various acts of misconduct, according to Bloomberg. The stoppage has forced Ford to close a plant this week in Oakville, Ontario, because of a lack of parts.

Rico manufactures fuel assembly parts, oil pans, valve covers, gear housings and other parts, according to its Web site.

rsnell@detnews.com (313) 222-2028