Ford Genk reaches retirement accord

28 November 2003

BRUSSELS – Management and union representatives at Ford’s Genk plant have reached a preliminary accord over early retirement schemes, following the announcement of 3,000 job cuts at the Limburg site.

Latest negotiations have led to an agreement whereby employees between the ages of 48 and 50 will be offered the opportunity to take early retirement from the age of 50.

A total of 50 employees will benefit from the new agreement, while Ford management has also pledged to increase dismissal bonuses.

A final accord is still to be confirmed pending further negotiations between unions and Ford management.

Earlier, Ford announced that the successor to the Galaxy MPV as well as the Cross Over, a 4×4 SUV vehicle, will be produced at the Belgian plant despite fears that it would close.

The decision provided a guarantee that Ford would be keeping its Belgian plant open, at least for the medium term.

At full production capacity, Ford will be making 300,000 vehicles at Genk annually, and is due to invest EUR 600 million in new production lines.

The announcement of 3,00 job cuts sent shockwaves through the province of Limbourg in September, leading to a series of solidarity marches, strikes and general unrest at the plant itself.

Subject: Belgian news