Frank intervention extends life of GM's Norton center

The Norton warehouse is now expected stay open through July 2010, Frank said.

As part of its bankruptcy and government-backed restructuring, GM plans to close 14 US manufacturing plants and two other distribution centers by 2012. Workers at the Norton center learned Monday of its impending closing, the day the automaker filed for bankruptcy protection, said Mark Ridenour, the chairman of the United Auto Workers union that represents plant employees.

"Everybody's face just dropped and everybody was moping around all day," Ridenour said, adding that none of the employees has fewer than 24 years on the job. "You work for a company for 24 years and then bam. It's a slap in the face - wow, I'm going to be out of a job."

The plant manager received word yesterday that Frank had successfully lobbied GM chief executive Fritz Henderson to delay the closing, according to Ridenour.

Frank said he met with Henderson on Wednesday to urge him to reevaluate the center's value to GM. He said he also stressed the loss of jobs would hurt already struggling Massachusetts families.

Frank, whose district includes Norton, said he told Henderson, "Look, I understand that these things have to happen but they don't have to happen in the midst of the worst recession in years."

GM officials decided to delay the closing of the plant after analyzing their East Coast distribution network and realizing they would need more time for a "orderly wind down," said spokeswoman Elaine Redd. She said the company has not set an exact date for the closing.

Although the plant is still scheduled to eventually close, Ridenour said employees are grateful for the additional time. "They're smiling, it's a lot better today than it was Monday," he said. "Even if they did close us down in 14 months, at least it gives us a year to get our family life in check. And if the economy turns around, hopefully, we'll be able to stay."

Erin Ailworth can be reached at eailworth@globe.com.