By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis – As expected, the Ford Motor Company said Thursday it will make major cuts at its Hazelwood Assembly Plant near St. Louis.
Around 1,000 workers will lose their jobs April 26th, when Ford eliminates one of the factory's two shifts.
Ken Dearing, President of the United Auto Workers Local 325, says Ford has not given exact details about the layoffs, but workers are expected to get offers from Ford plants elsewhere.
"We are going to be told, probably within the next week to 10 days, an approximate number, and any kind of incentive packages and locations where people could be relocated," Dearing said.
Earlier plans called for a complete shutdown of the Hazelwood plant, but a state and local tax incentives package caused company officials to reconsider.
The factory will stay open until at least 2007.