White Marsh GM Workers Avoid Weeklong Layoff

MD GM transmission plant avoids weeklong shutdown
February 21, 2009 12:55 EST

WHITE MARSH, Md. (AP) -- General Motors' Powertrain Baltimore Transmission Plant has avoided a planned weeklong shutdown prompted by slow vehicle sales .

Plant spokesman John Raut said demand has improved for some company vehicles, including the Chevy Silverado and Sierra pickups trucks for which the plant makes automatic transmissions.

The shutdown at the plant that employs 238 people was originally scheduled to start Monday.

Seventy-nine employees have been laid off in White Marsh since last year because of a slowdown in demand for its transmissions. The White Marsh, Md., plant makes Pontiac six-speed Allison transmissions and a hybrid 2-mode.