DETROIT - General Motors says the future of the Lordstown Assembly Plant won't be decided until after labor contract negotiations with the United Autoworkers Union.

That information echoes the UAW's intention to make GM Lordstown an issue during bargaining for a national contract that is expected to begin this summer.

GM spokesman Dan Flores emailed the following response to an inquiry from 21 News about what will happen to the plant when the last Chevy Cruze rolls off the line:

When Cruze production ends this afternoon, the plant will be maintained in a safe and secure status and the property will continue to be owned by General Motors. Long term disposition of the facility will be determined after the UAW-GM contract negotiations later this year.

Flores did say that GM will remove materials such as auto parts that were not used and paint from the paint shop, but none of the conveyors, dies, tooling, machinery, etc. will be removed.

The email also confirms earlier claims by the union that the plant is not for sale.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine told 21 News last week that he is trying to find a new company to take over the plant.

In spite of the UAW and GM's admission that Lordstown will be an issue in contract bargaining, the union is continuing to battle the automaker in federal court with a lawsuit claiming General Motors violated the existing national agreement by failing to bring a new product to Lordstown and three other plants.