GM shuts part of U.S. 'Arsenal of Democracy'

By Nick Carey

YPSILANTI, Mich. (Reuters) - During its finest hour in World War II, the retooled Willow Run car factory here could make an operational B-24 heavy bomber in just 59 minutes.

Sixty-four years later the plant has reached its nadir, as General Motors Corp has announced that it is one of 11 plants slated to close as part of the struggling automaker's efforts to restructure its business.

GM filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday and should emerge by the end of August as a slimmed-down entity majority-controlled by the U.S. government.

Auto workers at Willow Run have slammed the move to shutter the plant -- which is about 48 km west of Detroit and makes engine transmissions -- saying the facility is one of GM's best and can operate more cheaply than other U.S. plants.

"Anytime GM has asked us to do anything, we've always stepped up to the plate," said Don Skidmore, president of United Auto Workers union Local 735, which represents some 1,200 workers at the plant. "We have made significant concessions to help make this the most flexible and most modern plant the company has."

"The message is simple: GM has closed the wrong plant."

Parts of Willow Run are already shut down. The rest will close by the end of 2010.

Others argue that by closing plants the United States could use during a time of war, the country is undermining its ability to produce weapons in future conflicts.