Ford Ranger Plant Idled for Month of December

Ford's St. Paul plant where the Ranger compact pickup is produced will see its production idled starting after November 26. Some 760 workers, represented by the United Auto Workers Local 879, will have the month of December off as Ford looks to align the Ranger's production with its actual demand. The workers are expected to return to the plant sometime after January 1. Most of the 760 workers will receive unemployment benefits during the plant's idle period.

Ford's original plan for the St. Paul plant was to close it in 2009 due to the slowdown in the truck market. It appears, however, that as gas prices shot up earlier this year, more consumers were drawn to the compact Ranger as it provided better gas mileage than full-size pickup trucks. The plant is now expected to remain open until 2011.

Source: Chicago Tribune