Toyota, UAW agree to close Calif. plant with 4,600 workers

Toyota, UAW agree to close Calif. plant with 4,600 workers

Posted 1h 54m ago
FREMONT, Calif. (AP) — The United Auto Workers and Toyota have agreed on terms to shut down the Nummi plant that employs 4,600 workers.
It is California's sole remaining auto plant.

The terms weren't disclosed Monday but include a pay package when the plant is shut down April 1. The agreement is subject to a ratification vote by the plant's 4,600 workers. The UAW says a vote will probably take place later this week.

Messages left Monday with Toyota and the UAW were not immediately returned.

Toyota said earlier this month that it will spend $250 million assisting employees at the factory.

Nummi, which stands for New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., began 25 years ago as a joint venture between Toyota and General Motors. The goal was to let GM observe the Japanese car-making system and let Toyota test its production model on U.S. workers.

GM, which briefly went into bankruptcy protection last year, pulled out of the alliance and is liquidating its stake. Toyota announced in August that without GM, it could not keep the factory running.

Toyota plans to move Nummi production of the Corolla sedan to Canada and Japan and the Tacoma pickup to Texas.

The UAW represents Nummi workers because of its history with GM. The union doesn't represent any other Toyota workers in the U.S.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/201 ... sing_N.htm