The ongoing Firestone tire recall is giving a short break to thousands of Ford employees in St. Louis. The Explorer assembly plant is shutting down for two weeks so that tires from the plant can be diverted to the ongoing recall. Ford spokeswoman Ann Doyle says it’s paid time off for about 2,400 assembly plant workers; they get 95% of their usual 40 hour paycheck. The St. Louis plant would have built more than 25,000 trucks during the two weeks. Plants in New Jersey and Minnesota are also shutting down.
