Union official: Lear closing Ohio plant

ZANESVILLE, Ohio (AP) -- A union official says auto parts maker Lear Corp. has told employees in Zanesville that the company will shut down its plant in the eastern Ohio city next year.

President Mark Chema (CHEH'-muh) of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 1628 says about 175 people work at the factory.

Chema says the company announced Wednesday that the plant will begin winding down in March 2009 and close by September.

Lear spokesman Mel Stephens confirms that the company has communicated with employees but says Lear doesn't comment on operations at specific plants.

For years, Southfield, Mich.-based Lear has been cutting back in Zanesville, where less than 10 years ago it had a local work force of 1,300 at two plants. The other closed in 2000.

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Information from: Times Recorder, http://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com