Turkey auto workers strike hits Ford

One of the biggest strikes in the Turkish automobile sector in recent times showed no sign of letting up Wednesday, with Ford the latest producer to be hit.

The factories of Renault and Fiat in Turkey have been ground to a halt in the past few days by a strike for higher pay and have also been joined by several auto parts manufacturers.

Two factories in the western Kocaeli region operated by Ford Otosan -- a long-standing joint venture between the US car giant and Turkish industrial conglomerate Koc Holding -- were the latest to halt production on Wednesday.

The Dogan news agency said that workers had downed tools in solidarity with their counterparts at Fiat and Renault, who are based in the nearby city of Bursa, the hub of Turkey's flourishing car industry.

Reports said that 300 employees of Ford protested at the operation's base in Golcuk in the Kocaeli region, chanting slogans against management and watched by a heavy police presence.

However, Ford Otosan denied that was the case, saying the temporary stoppage was due to a lack of parts caused by the strikes at suppliers.

With the strikes now entering a seventh day, concerns are growing over the threat to the Turkish economy from the labour disputes in a sector that has been an engine of growth in recent years.