Fiat plans to shut CNH tractor plant in Italy
MILAN, June 24 (Reuters) - Italian car maker group Fiat SpA (FIA.MI) plans to shut its CNH Global NV (CNH.N) farm equipment plant at Imola, Italy, in two years, a company spokesman said on Wednesday.
The northern Italian plant employs about 500 workers.
The global agricultural equipment market has been hard hit by the recession as farmers hold off making big-ticket purchases.
Union leaders called the move unacceptable, Ansa news agency said.
Fiat, Italy's biggest manufacturer, said last week it planned to halt car output at its plant in Sicily in 2011 while also planning changes to production at a site near Naples.
The company called on Italy's government and unions last week to back efforts to keep jobs while cutting output in Italy.
Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne is trying to steer Fiat through a crisis of falling demand which is hitting carmakers worldwide. He also has taken on the task of trying to return Chrysler to health after taking a 20 percent stake in the U.S. automaker.
(Reporting by Danilo Masoni, writing by Ian Simpson; editing by John Stonestreet)
