Ford workers strike after plant shutdown announced

After a meeting held yesterday evening (Feb. 19), metal workers at Ford decided to go on strike against the shutdown of the plant in São Bernardo do Campo, in São Paulo state. A new meeting will be carried out Tuesday (26). “We fought, we did everything to prevent this from happening. We need all to go back home and return next week. Until then—strike,” said José Quixabeira de Anchieta, coordinator-general at Ford’s trade union committee.

Ford announced yesterday it will finish the activities at its plant in São Bernardo do Campo. The company also confirmed it will leave the truck market in South America. In Brazil, it will no longer sell lines Cargo, F-4000, F-350, and Fiesta after stocks are empty.

“Maintaining business would demand a significant amount of investment to meed market needs and the mounting costs with regulatory items with no viable way for profitable and sustainable business,” the firm said in a note.

Employees at the plant total 3,200, including direct and indirect workers, according to data from the trade union.