Closing of Ontario supplier plant to cost 620 jobs

WALLACEBURG, Ontario - The Oxford Automotive Inc. plant in this community 35 miles northeast of Detroit is closing late next spring, putting 620 hourly and salaried employees out of work. The last day of operations "will occur during the second calendar quarter of 2004," officials with the Troy, Mich.-based automotive supplier said Friday. "The decision to close the Wallaceburg plant was based on a declining business base primarily due to a transition in suspension technology away from leaf springs to coil springs," said Jeff Wilson, the company's North American president. Oxford Automotive will meet with government and union officials in an effort to help employees find other jobs, Wilson said. "Employees were devastated when they were told about the closing," said Jim Hamilton, vice president of UAW Local 251 and union plant chairman. Hamilton said he hoped to meet this week with company officials to begin negotiating a closure agreement. Oxford Automotive supplies specialized welded metal assemblies and related products for the automotive industry. Source:2003 AP Wire and wire service sources. December 6, 2003: "Closing of Ontario supplier plant to cost 620 jobs" By Associated Press