(Fwd) [60] SPANISH TRUCK STRIKE HITS PRODUCTION AT CAR COMPANI

["Curtis Price" <cansv@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

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Date:          Fri, 14 Feb 1997 22:50:20 -0500
From:          NewsHound@xxxxxxxxxxxxx (NewsHound)

Subject:       [60] SPANISH TRUCK STRIKE HITS PRODUCTION AT CAR COMPANIES

Selected by your NewsHound profile entitled "STRIKES". The selectivity score was
 60 out of 100.

Spanish truck strike hits production at car companies
By CIARAN GILES

Associated Press Writer

MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Auto plants across Spain were forced to stop work Friday,
deprived of parts by a week-old strike by truck drivers.

Nissan Iberica's plants in central Avila and northern Pamplona were closed
because strikers prevented trucks from reaching the factories with parts, a
spokesman said. The company's Barcelona plant was functioning normally.

Peugeot's Villaverde plant near Madrid also shut, while Citroen's plant in
northwestern Vigo said it may have to close Saturday.

Ford's Valencia plant said it planned to lay off 3,000 workers if the strike was
 not resolved by Monday. Volkswagen reportedly told 4,500 employees not to come
into work Monday because it too lacked essential parts.

Police worked to safeguard truck drivers not taking part in the strike, called
by the Fedatrans drivers' association Feb. 6. The association is demanding fuel
subsidies, improved health care and a lower retirement age -- from 65 to 60.

In the northern region of Cantabria, police detained two picketers for trying to
 block trucks, news reports said. In the northern Basque region, a driver was
arrested for allegedly threatening a picketer with a gun.

There were no reports of any serious shortages in cities.

The International Road Transport Union has complained to Spain's Ministries of
Transport and Interior, demanding an immediate return to normal traffic
conditions and compensation for the damages suffered. Farm losses alone are
estimated at $140 million.

The Fedatrans association refused to attend the second day of talks between
government officials and representatives of several other trucker associations.

The group represents 10 percent of Spain's estimated 200,000 truck drivers.

AP-WS-02-14-97 2009EST





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