Union-made layoffs?

Janesville Gazette:

General Motors officials estimate that 756 jobs will be lost when the automaker eliminates a production shift at its Janesville plant in July.

At least that’s the number the automaker is giving the state under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, which requires employers to provide 60 days notice in advance of a mass layoff or plant closing.

The number may change.

That’s bad news for a lot of families, and the effects are going to trickle out into the local economy.

But it’s not much of a surprise: they make sport utility vehicles there. Sales are suffering, as one might expect, because of the economy and the price of gas:

Plant manager Gary Malkus said in a letter to employees that a weak economy and rising gas prices forced GM into the cuts.

Plus, this isn't helping:

JANESVILLE — The ongoing United Auto Workers strike against American Axle will continue to affect production at the Janesville General Motors plant.

...American Axle supplies GM plants with axles, drive shafts, stabilizer bars and other parts. More than 3,600 UAW members struck the company on Feb. 26 over a company plan to drastically cut wages and benefits.

GM’s plant in Janesville was first affected during the week of March 10, when both shifts worked half time. With the exception of some previously scheduled down time, local production has been about 50 percent of normal because of the American Axle strike.

Soft economy, rising gas prices...maybe this isn't the best time to prolong a strike?

Ooh, I know! The UAW is going to endorse Republicans this year, so we can expand domestic drilling and refining, thus increasing the oil supply and bringing gas prices down, so more of their people can have regular work! Right?