Portugal VW plant could stop today

A worker's representative at Volkswagen's Autoeuropa plant in Portugal has organized a one-day general strike today he said hopes will completely halt production at the plant.

Antonio Chora, a representative of the factory's workers' commission, told Reuters he hoped most of the 2,700 workers at Autoreuropa would join the strike to protest against government plans to cut benefits and social security.

"We asked workers to strike but we don't know if production will completely stop," said Chora. "Our hope is that the factory comes to a complete halt."

The VW plant is the largest direct foreign investment in Portugal, representing up to 8 percent of the country's exports and 2 percent of gross domestic product, according to the Economy Ministry.

The move is part of a nationwide strike scheduled to take place today.