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Maryland offers help to displaced White Marsh GM employees

By Jeff Clabaugh

WASHINGTON — Maryland officials say they had no chance to weigh in on General Motors plans to close five plants in North America, including one that makes engines in White Marsh, Maryland.

The closing of the Baltimore County plant could affect as many as 300 employees.

Maryland agencies are now offering assistance to White Marsh employees impacted.

“This was a corporate decision to undertake a national restructuring, a decision the state did not have the opportunity to influence,” said Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Mike Gill and Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation Secretary Kelly Shulz said in a joint statement.

Both departments have set up teams to work with displaced employees to direct them to employment resources including unemployment claims, training opportunities and potential job opportunities.

“Given their advanced manufacturing, robotics and other technical skills, we are confident that those affected by the restructuring will soon find opportunities with Maryland manufacturers, Gill and Shulz said.

The White Marsh plant opened in 2000 and produces transmissions for General Motors full-sized pick up trucks. In 2010, it underwent a $135 million upgrade to add capacity to produce electric engines and parts.

The White Marsh plant generated $33.1 million in state wages in 2017, according to GM. The plant is expected to close sometime in 2019.

Massachusetts court hears arguments in lawsuit alleging Meta designed apps to be addictive to kids

By The Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts' highest court heard oral arguments Friday in the state's lawsuit arguing that Meta designed features on Facebook and Instagram to make them addictive to young users. The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by Attorney General Andrea Campbell, alleges that Meta did this to make a profit and that its actions affected hundreds of thousands of teenagers in Massachusetts who use the social media platforms. “We are making claims based only on the tools that Meta has developed because its own research shows they encourage addiction to the platform in a variety of ways,” said State Solicitor David Kravitz, adding that the state's claim has nothing to do the company's algorithms or failure to moderate content. Meta said Friday that it strongly disagrees with the allegations and is “confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people.” Its attorney, Mark Mosier, argued in court that the lawsuit “would impose liabilities for performing traditional publishing functions” and that its actions are protected by the First Amendment.
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