Delphi plans for layoffs and shutdowns

STAFF REPORT

Delphi Packard Electric is shutting down its local plants next week and laying off salaried staff at corporate offices for at least two weeks because of reduced orders from automakers.

About 650 members of Local 717 of the International Union of Electrical Workers will be laid off next week, said Karen Krolopp, union president.

The union already had 150 workers who were on extended layoffs, and it also has had rolling layoffs that affect plants one week at a time.

J. David Olsen, a Packard spokesman, said salaried staff at the plants also will be laid off next week.

In addition, Packard’s salaried staff who are not directly tied to plants will be laid off the weeks of May 25 and July 6. Another week could be added later, Olsen said.

He didn’t have the number of salaried workers that would be impacted.

Olsen said the plant shutdowns are needed to align production with customer demands.

GM, which is Delphi’s biggest customers, is closing many of its assembly plants for parts of May, June and July because of the slowdown in auto sales.

Krolopp said management told her that Packard plans to close the local plants one week a month during the GM shutdowns.

Packard uses several plants in Trumbull County to produces cable and plastic and metal parts that are used in wiring systems for vehicles.

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