Bulletin: Big Three Shutdown — Chrysler R.I.P.?

Well, it’s not as though there haven’t been warnings…but the news from Chrysler still shocks.

At the end of this Friday’s shift, all manufacturing facilities will be closed until January 19, 2009. Chrysler has 30 facilities in North America. All will close. The plant in Windsor, Ontario (makes minivans) and the Detroit/Connor Assembly (builds engines and Vipers) will close through the month of January. The two plants in Toledo will be shut down until January 26. This will impact 46,000 UAW workers, according to Chrysler. Chrysler says these employees will receive state unemployment benefits as well as supplemental payments from Chrysler during the layoff according to a union negotiated formula. These workers will not be receiving their regular income. There will be white collar workers who will not be working as well (number unknown) but the expectation is they will continue to receive their regular salaries during this time. More from Chrysler.

And now we have this about General Motors.  Is the sky falling — or is this a way to further prod the White House for a bailout — or both?