Management at Belgian Ford plant calls union leaders to urgent meeting amid financial woes

GENK, Belgium – A union leader says Ford officials have summoned union representatives from its Genk, Belgium, factory to an urgent meeting Wednesday

"We don't know what they're going to say," the union official said. "We can't tell you anything."

Ford Motor Co.has been under pressure in Europe due to the region's dwindling demand for cars.

The plant in Genk, in eastern Belgium, employs 4,300 people, and makes the midsize Mondeo and the S-MAX minivan. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of an agreement among three unions not to speculate before the meeting.

Ford declined to comment. The company expects to lose more than $1 billion this year in Europe, where it gets a quarter of its sales. Analysts say the company has more factory capacity than it needs and will eventually have to lay off workers or close plants.