More layoffs are coming to a Stellantis plant in Macomb County.
The automaker, formerly known as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, plans indefinite layoffs at its Sterling Stamping Plant in Sterling Heights beginning next week.
Spokeswoman Ann Marie Fortunate said the company is not disclosing how many workers will be affected.
“In order to operate the plant in a more sustainable manner, Stellantis confirms that there will be indefinite layoffs at the Sterling Stamping Plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan, effective June 20,” according to a company statement.
LaShawn English, president of UAW Local 1264, wrote a letter to members Tuesday, which was posted on Facebook, telling them that the union had been notified by management that day of the layoffs and that they would happen “from the bottom up” beginning as soon as Monday.
The explanation from the company mirrors what it said about a similar announcement in March. The company said that 98 workers at the plant would be on indefinite layoff that month “in order to operate the plant in a more sustainable manner.”
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It’s not clear what happened to those workers, who would have had the ability, under the contract with the UAW, to be moved elsewhere. Fortunate said the company isn’t providing additional information about the status of those employees. She confirmed that the upcoming layoffs are “in addition” to the earlier ones.
In March, English told members that the union was able to negotiate a drastic reduction in the number of layoffs that the company had initially sought.
As of January, 2,184 workers — 1,977 hourly and 207 salaried — were employed at the plant, which produces stampings and assemblies, including hoods, roofs and liftgates, for numerous Stellantis plants.
Stellantis owns the Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Maserati brands.
The March layoffs at Sterling Stamping came about the same time as a retooling at the Detroit Assembly Complex — Jefferson plant, previously known as Jefferson North Assembly Plant or JNAP.
That retooling shutdown led to a temporary layoff for many of the Jefferson plant’s 4,800 workers. The Jefferson plant resumed production May 23 after an eight-week shutdown, the company said, noting that the plant would initially build the Dodge Durango and ramp up production of the new version of Jeep Grand Cherokee in the coming weeks.
Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @_ericdlawrence. Become a subscriber.