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Ford Workers Join Massive German Strikes

Some 13,000 at Ford's Cologne plant participated in the strike.

Metal workers gather in front of the Ford factory to stage a strike in Cologne Germany, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018. Thousands of workers have walked off the job at the Ford plant in Germany and other factories as the country’s largest industrial union pressed ahead with a campaign of 24-hour strikes to pressure employers for higher wages.
Metal workers gather in front of the Ford factory to stage a strike in Cologne Germany, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018. Thousands of workers have walked off the job at the Ford plant in Germany and other factories as the country’s largest industrial union pressed ahead with a campaign of 24-hour strikes to pressure employers for higher wages.
Oliver Berg/dpa via AP

BERLIN (AP) — Thousands of workers have walked off the job at a Ford plant in Germany and other factories as the country's largest industrial union pressed ahead with a campaign of 24-hour strikes to pressure employers for higher wages.

The dpa news agency reported some 13,000 at Ford's Cologne plant participated in Thursday's strike. The IG Metall union also targeted Volkswagen, auto part manufacturers Bosch and Mahle, and other companies.

The walkouts started with Tuesday's night shift after talks broke down over the weekend. Further strikes are planned Friday at BMW, Audi, Daimler and Porsche.

The union is seeking a 6-percent pay increase for some 3.9 million workers and the right to reduce work weeks to 28 hours for up to two years, with a guarantee that workers can return to regular hours.

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