Champion Spark Plug announced that it will...

Champion Spark Plug announced that it will lay off more than a quarter of its work force in Toledo, Ohio, one month after members of the United Auto Workers union approved a new four-year contract. The layoffs, which will begin March 22, will be phased in during the next four months, said William Walker, Champion’s director of industrial relations. A total of 243 workers--119 from the aviation products group and 124 from automotive operations--will lose their jobs. An additional 62 will be laid off at the company’s three other U.S. manufacturing facilities, he said. Champion employs about 834 production workers in Toledo.