Report: GM to layoff 900 Pontiac workers

DETROIT, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Lagging demand for pickups will lead to furloughs of about 900 United Auto Workers at General Motors' Pontiac Assembly plant in Michigan, GM said.

GM officials told workers at the plant about plans to eliminate the overnight shift, which makes Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks, the Detroit Free Press said. GM has sold about 526,000 Silverado pickups this year -- up 2 percent from 2003 -- making the truck GMC's top selling vehicle, but projections show sales will cool because of competition from newer pickups like the Nissan Titan.

About 1,100 of the 5,500 UAW members at the plant work the third shift, but 200 will not be affected by the production cutbacks. Furloughed UAW workers receive 95 percent of their regular take-home pay.

The layoffs are not expected to impact salaried workers.

"This is a market-driven decision that allows GM to better align production at Pontiac with current and forecasted demand," GM spokesman Dan Flores told the Free Press.