 The Genk plant will not now produce the Focus |
Workers at Ford's plant in Genk, Belgium, have launched a 24-hour strike in protest at the elimination of 3,000 jobs. The US car giant last week started to detail plans for up to 12,000 job losses worldwide, part of a programme to get its finances in shape in the current sluggish market.
The firm has called off plans to produce its Focus model at Genk - a severe blow to the plant, leading to the loss of almost one-third of its 9,500 staff.
A Ford spokesman confirmed that the plant was not operating, but said that unions had promised to have workers back at their posts for the first shift on Tuesday.
Even then, however, staff will continue a blockade of deliveries to and from the plant, which was launched when the news came out last week.
The spokesman said he had no idea how long the blockade would persist, or how Ford would be able to keep production going when its factory gates were barred.
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