Ford's St. Thomas Plant Idled by Railroad Strike

Ford Motor Co. is forced to shut down production today at its St. Thomas, ON, Canada, assembly plant due to delayed parts shipments, Bloomberg News reports.

The delay is due to a strike at Canadian National Railway Co. About 2,800 conductors and yard workers at Montreal-based CN, represented by the United Transportation Union, walked off the job Feb. 10.

The plant, which produces the Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis sedans, has lost production since Feb. 13 and was unable to operate a full shift Feb. 15, Joe Hinrichs, Ford vice president-North American manufacturing tells Bloomberg News.

“We have parts in the system,” Hinrichs says. “The problem is they’re all tied up.”

Ford is starting to move parts to St. Thomas via truck, Hinrichs says, adding the auto maker will attempt to resume production at the plant early next week.