GM Plant Closings Have Larger Impact
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla., Nov. 21, 2005 — -- Roy Munguia is one of 2,200 workers whose jobs will disappear early next year when General Motors padlocks the Oklahoma City plant. He has worked in this plant for 29 years, but today he learned it will be the first to go.
The gas-guzzling SUVs that Munguia and his co-workers build are not selling like they used to.
"It's a slap in the face," he said about the announced closing.
The pain is double for Pete and Beth Holcomb. They met at the plant 27 years ago, and both still work there.
"It's a shock," Pete said. "I don't think anyone knew this was coming."
It comes as a shock because this facility has weathered layoffs and hard times -- even a tornado that ripped apart the plant two years ago.
The state launched an enthusiastic public relations campaign meant to keep this plant up and running.
"They told me this decision was strictly market-based, that it was based strictly on the national and international market," said Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry (D).
The economic impact here goes well beyond the workers. This plant pumps nearly $1 billion into the state's economy every year.
That is about to change.
"There will be a lot of small companies that have been supplying that company for a long period of time that are going to lose that business," said Roy Williams, president of the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce.
That includes large companies that supply GM and the mom-and-pop stores in the community.
At Rodeo Cleaners -- a local business -- owner Suzy Labenne is bracing for the worst. Many of her customers work for GM.
"We're gonna lose customers definitely," said Labenne. "It's gonna be really bad around here."
Munguia worries about his son, who also works at the plant, their pensions and the future.
It's a future that has become uncertain for tens of thousands of GM workers across the country.
ABC News' Barbara Pinto filed this report for "World News Tonight."
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