ST. JOSEPH CO. — The Hummer H2 plant in St. Joseph County will shut down production sometime Tuesday, meaning 400 local workers will be temporarily off the job.

A spokesman for AM General told WSBT News the shutdown is a result of the strike against American Axle. The company provides parts for the H2 and other GM vehicles.

Employees leaving the plant Monday afternoon were preparing themselves for the long haul.

"We might be laid off a long time," said Victor Miramontes, who works at the plant. "Some people [are] talking until September."

GM buys some parts for the H2 from American Axle. GM then sends those parts to the H2 plant.

But last week American Axle workers walked off the job in a dispute over wages.

Eight hundred of them work in Three Rivers, Mich. GM has shut down factories across the Midwest, because they've run out of axles.

Now, the H2 plant is suffering the same fate. Even those employees who will still work during the shutdown will have to adjust.

"We all get affected by it," said Clarence Bibbs, a non-union employee. "We're going to lose production, and we'll just find other things to do."

Bibbs blames the American Axle workers for the shutdown.

"There's an alternative solution, rather than going on strike," Bibbs said. "Nobody wins when you go on strike."

UAW workers at the plants that have been shut down have been supportive of their fellow union members.

Even though some of them, like Victor Miramontes, are now caught in the middle of the dispute.

AM General officials said the company's employees will be eligible for unemployment benefits and other benefits provided by the company. A spokesman said even if the strike ends soon, production may not resume for a couple days.