NOKIA, Finland (Dec. 22, 2008)-Nokian Tyres P.L.C. will trim production of heavy-duty tires at its headquarters plant in Nokia through mid-2009 by laying off about 280 employees for periods of 10 to 100 days throughout the coming six months.
Nokian said that by staggering the layoffs according to job, the cutback will equate to 90 employees being off for the entire six months.
Nokian cited the global financial crisis for lower demand for heavy tires.
Production personnel in the heavy tires department staged a one-day walkout on Dec. 18 to protest the move.
The heavy tires department makes forestry, harbor, mining, agricultural and industrial machinery tires in the face of low demand for forestry tires.