Mitsubishi offers buyouts at central Illinois plant

NORMAL, Ill. -- Mitsubishi Motors North America has offered a third round of buyouts to employees at a central Illinois plant.

Spokesman Dan Irvin says employees at the plant in Normal have until April 1 to accept the lump sum of $85,000 and three months of medical bills.

More than 100 production workers accepted the buyout when it was first offered in August. Two months later, up to 100 more production staff and 30 maintenance workers took early retirement or participated in a voluntary separation program.

The offer won't affect plans for a 12-week shutdown at the plant slated to begin Feb. 16 and run through May 8.

Mitsubishi employs more than 1,000 union workers in Normal. Four Mitsubishi models are produced there.