FARGO, N.D. (AP) -- A union official says the Case-New Holland plant in Fargo is planning eight weeks of temporary layoffs for a production line next month but most of the workers will be shifted to the plant's tractor line.
Chris Skeldum, president of the International Association of Machinists chapter, said the move is in response to slack demand for construction equipment made at the plant.
"Not very many people should be affected with the down time, but there'll be a couple weeks off here, a couple back on," Skeldum said. "What I'm hearing is, after the first quarter, things are supposed to pick back up. Hopefully that's what happens, but you never know with the economy."
Skeldum said the demand remains strong for tractors made in Fargo, so most of the workers on the construction equipment line will move to the tractor line.
The Case-New Holland plant is one of Fargo's largest employers. More than 600 people work on the assembly lines at the plant, making about 20 different types of front-end loaders and farm tractors.
Case-New Holland is a unit of Illinois-based CNH Global, which makes farm and construction equipment. Company officials did not immediately return calls seeking for comment.
