Toyota shifts Princeton shift to dayside

PRINCETON-Gibson County's Toyota plant night shift moves to morning in April on a trial basis as the latest adjustment to production demands at the county's largest employer.

Spokesperson Kelly Dillon said about 2,000 evening side employees will work 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. The approximately 2,000-employee day shift remains at 6:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

"This could fluctuate on a month to month basis, depending on our production needs," said Dillon.

Employees were updated on the changes Thursday. "We're trying to give team members adequate time to prepare and adjust," she said.

Last week Toyota employees learned the company would begin a series of cost-cutting measures, which included cutting hours, raises, bonuses and offering voluntary leaves with benefits or buy-outs, to avoid lay-offs.

The buy-out package would offer 10 weeks' base pay plus two weeks' pay for every year of service, plus a $20,000 lump sum.

In April, the company plans to cut to 72 hours of work and pay every two weeks, depending on production needs.

The plant already scheduled periodic non-production days as needed, but protected jobs by providing training and plant improvement activities, established a hiring freeze, eliminated overtime and suspended capital spending.

Production of the next generation Sienna minivan is scheduled to begin in 2010 and the Highland sport utility vehicle starts production here late this year.

When employees aren't making vehicles, they'll be undergoing training and doing plant improvement work, said Dillon.