Fiat Workers Hit Brakes Over Layoffs

Workers for Fiat, Europe’s second largest auto maker, blocked a highway near Milan and slowed down traffic on a provincial road Friday in an escalating protest against thousands of planned layoffs.

Fiat workers had disrupted train traffic at Milan’s main railroad station Thursday and had blocked the highway on Wednesday.

The Alfa Romeo factory of Arese, as well as Fiat units in Turin and near Naples, are facing a major reorganization to combat dropping sales.

Negotiations over Fiat’s plans to lay off 11,800 workers by next year collapsed two weeks ago, but the company and trade unions have indicated talks may resume soon.