DEWITT (AP) -- About 585 workers are getting layoff notices at the New Process Gear plant in Syracuse.
A union leader says the temporary layoffs will begin Monday. They're in response to multi-week shutdowns at General Motors and Chrysler assembly plants.
The New Process plant's owner, Magna International, has said it will close the plant that makes transmission systems for four-wheel drive vehicles. But the current layoff is expected to be temporary and end in August.
For the remaining workers, the plant is beginning rolling layoffs where employees will work one week and be off the next.
Magna reported a $200 million loss for the first quarter and says its sales had decreased 46 percent compared with the year ago.
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