http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jFew0tEK01jfGqONH-741IA2tiSwD98F9F902By TOM KRISHER – 3 days ago
DETROIT (AP) — The news no one wants to hear is coming Monday morning to General Motors Corp. factories across the U.S.
The troubled auto giant will identify 14 factories it will close by the end of 2010 as part of its restructuring plan, according to a person briefed on the plans.
The announcement could coincide with GM's all-but-inevitable bankruptcy protection filing, expected to come by Monday.
Factory-level union leaders have not yet been told which plants will be shuttered, but four vehicle assembly plants will be among those to be closed, along with parts stamping, engine and transmission factories, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the plans have not been made public.
GM has said it plans to close 16 more U.S. factories by the end of next year, shedding 21,000 jobs. Two have already have been announced — an engine plant in Massena, N.Y., and a parts stamping plant near Grand Rapids, Mich.
United Auto Workers union officials in Detroit have been telling plant-level officials that the company will make the announcement rather than the union, according to the person.
GM spokeswoman Sherri Childers Arb would not comment on Thursday.