By Shelley Kofler
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-723478.mp3
Dallas, TX – General Motors had already announced a two-week shut down of the Arlington plant in July.
Now GM says the 2400 Arlington employees and those at six other GM plants will be sidelined an additional three weeks through the end of the year.
The decision comes in the midst of high gas prices that have consumers searching for smaller, fuel efficient cars. The GM Arlington plant produces big SUV's, but the local United Auto Worker President, JR Flores, says employees are hopeful a recent retooling of the plant will save it.
Flores: We're going to the hybrid models now in the Yukon, Tahoe and Escalade. We think that is going to be part of the future. The people who buy our vehicles want the room but they also have to be able to afford the gas. I think by meeting gas mileage requirements it will keep people buying our product
Flores says that during the shut downs idled employees will receive state unemployment and a stipend from the company, but that will fall short of their regular paychecks.