Sep. 20--Permanent layoffs at TRW Automotive, while unfortunate, still leave the Marshall, Ill., company with a strong work force, said Marshall Mayor Ken Smith.

The company announced on Thursday the permanent layoff of "less than 25" workers.

"They do a lot of work for the auto industry, with anti-lock braking systems and air bag systems for vehicles," Smith said Friday. "Trucks and SUVs are pretty low in sales right now, so it trickles down. We hate to see this, but [TRW] still have not cut off any shifts and still do weekend shifts. They are still doing well, but not as well as we would like to see."

"The only way to control this is to get the economy back on track, gasoline prices lower and automobile sales up, then they will be back to normal," Smith said. "Still, we don't think it is leading to any kind of a plant close down. We know any plant can pack up and move, but this plant is one of the highest-rated TRW plants as far as productivity and making safety equipment. We have a good relationship with them."

The laid-off employees include hourly and salaried workers.

John Wilkerson, TRW senior communications manager, said in an e-mail the move "is actually only the second impact in terms of permanent layoffs at Marshall this year. By the end of September the plant will still employ approximately 780 people, and the location has been here for over 50 years."

The first permanent layoff of employees included about 11 workers, Smith said.

TRW Automotive is the largest employer in Clark County, Ill. The company also is the largest user of Marshall's city-owned utility for natural gas and a large user of electricity, Smith said.

-----

To see more of The Tribune-Star or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.tribstar.com/.

Copyright (c) 2008, The Tribune-Star, Terre Haute, Ind.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

NYSE:TRW, NYSE:TGT,