General Motors plant closes leaving thousands jobless

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The last vehicle has rolled off the assembly line at the General Motors plant in Oklahoma City after 27 years of operation. <br/><br/>The plant with about 2,400 employees shuts down

Monday, February 20th 2006, 4:40 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The last vehicle has rolled off the assembly line at the General Motors plant in Oklahoma City after 27 years of operation.

The plant with about 2,400 employees shuts down today as part of GM's plan to shut down 12 facilities in North America and cut 30,000 jobs in a cost-cutting move.

Economists in Oklahoma say up to 7,500 jobs could be affected in the state, including GM suppliers and workers in the hotel and restaurant industry.

Some plant workers took cameras with them Monday to photograph their work stations and co-workers and the final vehicle _ a white Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT.

Governor Brad Henry says he's not giving up on the plant. Henry says he'll continue talking with GM about the future of the plant while also looking for another industry that could use the facility.