Winter storm cancels shifts at 4 GM plants

General Motors is canceling shifts at four of its biggest U.S. factories Monday, including its highly profitable full-size SUV plant in Texas and its midsize pickup plant in Missouri.

A severe winter storm is delivering arctic temperatures, snow and ice accumulation that can hinder operations, create dangerous driving conditions for workers and impede parts delivery to plants.

On Monday, GM spokesman David Barnas told the Free Press that the automaker canceled the following shifts:

• Three shifts at its midsize SUV plant in Spring Hill, Tenn.

• Three shifts at its full-size SUV factory in Arlington after the governor issued a disaster declaration.

• The second shift at its Bowling Green Assembly plant in Kentucky, where it builds the Corvette.

• The second shift at Wentzville Assembly in Missouri, where GM makes its Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon pickups and the Chevy Express and GMC Savana full-size vans.

In total, more than 8,000 workers have been affected across the four facilities, Barnas said. Production plans at the plants beyond second shift Monday will continue to be evaluated, he said, noting employee safety in severe weather is a big part of GM’s consideration.