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N.C. Bus Maker To Idle Plant, Lay Off Workers

Thomas Built Buses, a unit of Daimler Trucks North America, says it will temporarily shut down production of conventional school buses at the end of August and lay off 220 workers.

HIGH POINT, N.C. (AP) -- The start of the school year will bring changes at the North Carolina factory that builds thousands of the country's school buses.

The union that represents hourly workers at the Thomas Built Buses plant in High Point said Wednesday about 220 employees will be laid off at the end of this month.

United Auto Workers Local 5287 president John Crawford says the layoffs will have the biggest effect on a parts-stamping operation. Parent company Daimler Trucks North America would not talk about the situation.

The company says it will temporarily shut down production of conventional school buses at the end of August.

Crawford says the shutdown is planned for two weeks and will affect about 300 other workers. A company spokeswoman declined to provide details. 

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