Chrysler LLC, the struggling automaker reorganizing in bankruptcy, will lay off 992 workers from its Belvidere assembly plant and convert the plant to a one-shift operation.

The company sent out an e-mail at 6:42 p.m. Tuesday with the new plan for its Belvidere plant where about 2,600 workers on two shifts have been assembling Dodge Calibers, Jeep Compasses and Jeep Patriots.

The plant has been idle since Chrysler filed for bankruptcy protection at the end of April and halted production of all of its manufacturing operations. The workers losing their positions will go on an indefinite layoff as of July 27. The company extended a buyout offer — a $75,000 cash payment and a $25,000 voucher for a Chrysler vehicle — until May 26. more...

Just one day after Barber Brothers in Spanish Fork got notice that its Chrysler Dodge, Dodge Truck and Jeep dealerships are getting terminated early next month, the Spanish Fork auto dealer was dealt another blow. Late Friday, the company was notified by General Motors that its Chevrolet dealership agreement likely won't be renewed in October 2010. If both Chrysler and GM dealerships, which account for 40 percent of Barber Brothers's business, are lost, the company will be forced to lay off half of its remaining 37-plus workforce in Spanish Fork, owner Fred Barber said. Just one year ago, Barber Brothers, which has been a GM dealer for 19 years and a Chrysler dealer for 26 years, had 71 workers. "We've halved our workforce over the past year due to the poor economy, failure in real estate, failure in the stock market, $4-a-gallon gas, and if Chrysler and GM have their way, more...

Second-shift workers at Chrysler LLC’s factories which make the Jeep Wrangler at the Toledo Jeep Assembly complex will be temporarily laid off for at least two more weeks, a Chrysler spokesman said Monday. The shift was idled Feb. 16, and was scheduled to return yesterday. About 600 second-shift workers will remain on layoff through at least March 9 because of slow sales, company and United Auto Workers officials said. more...