Addison firm urges GM workers to OK concessions for plant sale

INDIANAPOLIS -- A businessman seeking to buy General Motors Co.'s Indianapolis stamping plant has met with workers to urge them to accept pay cuts allowing the sale.

Addison-based JD Norman Industries seeks wage and benefit cuts as a condition of the purchase.

The United Auto Workers union opposes the concessions, which would cut pay from $29 to $15.50 an hour.

The Indianapolis Star reports Justin Norman told workers Sunday that skilled trade workers at his Chicago-area plant earn almost $100,000 a year. The concessions would cut skilled trade wages from $33 to $24 an hour.

The UAW says it's better for workers to exercise their right to transfer to another plant if the Detroit-based automaker closes the plant next year as scheduled.