In Pictures: Ford workers in Belgium react to plant closing
Ford workers react on Wednesday, Oct. 24, after European Ford management announced it would close the Ford plant in Genk, Belgium at the end of 2014.Geert Vanden Wijngaert/The Associated Press
The move will result in 4,500 direct job losses and 5,000 more among subcontractors.Geert Vanden Wijngaert/The Associated Press
A Ford worker reacts after hearing the news. The U.S. car maker also called a meeting with unions in Britain for Thursday, raising fears another plant closure was on the way.Geert Vanden Wijngaert/The Associated Press
Workers leave the Ford assembly plant after an emergency meeting with the plant management in Genk Oct. 24. Ford is trying to stem losses in Europe and match capacity to tumbling demand.FRANCOIS LENOIR/Reuters
Belgium’s Flemish Region President Kris Peeters attends a meeting with union members in Brussels Oct. 24, 2012. Ford is consolidating production of its new mid-sized models in an underused factory in Valencia, Spain, where wages are lower.ERIC VIDAL/Reuters
A worker, centre, smashes a plaque that contains the Ford Motor Co. mission statement with a shovel while another worker looks on in front of the Ford factory in Genk, Belgium on Oct. 24.Virginia Mayo/The Associated Press
Workers embrace as they react to the news in front of the Ford factory in Genk. European car sales fell in September at their fastest pace of the past 12 months.Virginia Mayo/The Associated Press
A Ford car is parked to block the exit of the assembly plant. The closing is Europe’s third car factory closure announcement this year.LAURENT DUBRULE/Reuters
The Ford assembly plant is seen beyond a road sign. The European car market has been shrinking due to the EU debt crisis, government spending cuts and rising unemployment.LAURENT DUBRULE/Reuters
A worker’s hard hat reads ‘Crash of the century’ outside the plant. Ford is not alone in suffering the effects of a slumping market: Peugeot started proceedings to close a factory in Aulnay, France, a couple of months ago.Virginia Mayo/The Associated Press
A man speaks on his cellphone in front of the Ford factory in Genk after the announcement.Virginia Mayo/The Associated Press
Workers react after the meeting. GM is also planning to shut a factory, in Bochum, Germany, but not until 2016.LAURENT DUBRULE/Reuters
Ford workers react after the announcement in Genk.Geert Vanden Wijngaert/The Associated Press
Ford workers embrace outside the plant.Geert Vanden Wijngaert/The Associated Press
Stephen Odell, right, chief executive officer of Ford Europe, arrives for a meeting with Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo in Brussels Oct. 24.ERIC VIDAL/Reuters
Even Volkswagen, the region’s biggest car company, reported a 19-per-cent drop in third-quarter operating profit.LAURENT DUBRULE/Reuters
Trash lies abandoned outside the empty Ford assembly plant in Genk after the emergency meeting.LAURENT DUBRULE/Reuters