Workers strike in protest against job cuts at Ford Germany

COLOGNE (Reuters) -Workers astatine Ford's 2 car plants successful the German metropolis of Cologne went connected onslaught connected Wednesday, protesting thousands of planned occupation cuts crossed the U.S. automaker's European operations.

The cuts astatine Ford bespeak a broader shake-up successful the car assemblage arsenic companies similar Volkswagen, Nissan and General Motors axe jobs successful effect to caller contention from China, anemic request and the costly modulation to electrification.

Striking workers gathered successful beforehand of 1 of the Cologne plants, holding aloft a reddish banner with the slogan "Fight for each job."

"The onslaught contiguous costs a mates of cardinal euros successful losses," works' assembly caput Benjamin Grushka said from the borderline of the picket line, referring to the halt successful accumulation arsenic a effect of the 24-hour walkout.

"So it hurts. I would beryllium amazed if the Ford plants don't invitation america for further talks time implicit the people of the day."

On the anticipation of further concern action, Grushka said, "If the leader doesn't marque a move, we are acceptable to strike."

The institution is yet to remark connected the onslaught and did not instantly respond to an emailed petition for remark from Reuters connected Wednesday.

Ford workers voted past week to strike, aft the institution said successful November it would chopped astir 14% of its European workforce, with Germany peculiarly hard hit.

Labour representatives person insisted that absorption find alternate measures to restructure the business.

(Reporting by Petra Wischgoll successful Cologne, penning by Rachel More, editing by Thomas Seythal)