Lear plant to close in June

By GRACE WYLER

gwyler@vindy.com

lordstown

Forty workers will lose their jobs when Lear Corp. closes its plant here June 24.

The auto-parts maker notified workers and state officials of the closing this week.

The Southfield, Mich.-based company, which filed for bankruptcy in July, has been hit hard by the economic downturn and the loss of General Motors supplier contracts.

The Lordstown plant supplies ceiling liners for the Chevrolet Cobalt but will not supply those parts for the new Chevrolet Cruze. The closing of the plant will coincide with the end of Cobalt production at the GM Lordstown complex.

The closing of the plant is part of the consolidation and restructuring of the auto industry, said Lear spokesman Mel Stephens.

“Our sales are down about 30 percent, and industry volume is down,” Stephens said.

United Auto Workers Local 1112, which represents the Lear employees, is working on finding new opportunities for the displaced workers, said union president Jim Graham.

He would not specify what kind of efforts the union is making on behalf of the Lear workers.