Workers goes back to work at Russian Ford Plant

Ford Motor Co. is really going through some tough times and challenges, among which was the strike in one of its assembly plants. Now, let us discuss about how things are going with the company.

After almost a month-long strike, Monday, Russian employees went back to work at the Ford Motor. Co. assembly plant near St. Petersburg. The strike ended after the union and the company, last week, agreed to continue negotiations on wage and hours demands.

However, according to Alexei Etmanov, head of the union that is seeking wage increases of over 30 percent and a reduction of the night shift to 6.5 hours, “It’s neither a failure nor a victory for either side. It’s just a new stage in the struggle for our interests.

Currently, the assembly line workers are making approximately 19,000 rubles ($800) a month. The American automaker has offered them an 11 percent raise, but would start on March 2008.

Last year, the plant in Vsevolozhsk has produced around 60,000 cars, majority was the Focus model.

Plant director Theo Streit said, “We are very pleased with the decision by the trade union that will allow all employees to get back to work.”