12:23 p.m.: Union believes GM plant to close soon
MORAINE, Ohio (AP) A union official says he expects General Motors SUV plant in the Dayton suburb of Moraine to close in January or February based on inventory and projected sales.
Harry Bogan, director of Regional 7 for the International Union of Electronic Workers-Communication Workers of America, said Monday that the automaker hasnt set a closing date for the plant that employs about 1,000 workers.
However, Gaylen Turner, president of IUE-CWA Local 798, says GM told him in a letter that the plant will sooner rather than later.
GM plans to close the factory by 2010 or earlier because customers have shifted to smaller vehicles. GM spokesman Tony Sapienza says a closing date hasnt been set. He says officials are trying to decide how many vehicles it will need from the plant.
