Michelin job cuts at Granton plant delayed by 3 weeks

The first round of job cuts at the Michelin plant in Granton, N.S., will be delayed by three weeks to coincide with a scheduled two-week manufacturing break at the facility.

About 200 jobs were due to be cuton July 1, but a spokeswoman for Michelin North America (Canada) Inc. now says it wont happen until the third week of July.

All severance dates will be adjusted accordingly, spokeswoman Deborah Carty said.

Another 300 jobs are scheduled to be cut at the plant on July 1, 2015.

Employees who lose their jobs have been offered work at Michelin's two other Nova Scotia facilities, in Waterville and Bridgewater.

The company announced the job cuts at the beginning of March. Michelin is Nova Scotias largest private manufacturer.

It said the market for small car and truck tires is dropping and its too expensive to upgrade the 43-year-old Granton plant to make larger tires.

After July 2015, the plant will focus on ahighperformance tire production line. Rubber mixing,a tire membrane shop as well as corporate offices will remain at the site.