MEXICAN VOLKSWAGEN PLANT WORKERS STAND IN FRONT OF A FLAG TRADITIONAL SYMBOL OF STRIKES IN MEXICO,...

Mexican Volkswagen-plant workers stand in front of a red and black flag, the traditional symbol of union strikes out-side of the plant in Mexican state of Puebla, August 18, 2001. Volkswagen Mexico's 12,500 workers began a strike on Saturday, demanding a 21 percent pay increase. The Puebla plant is Volkswagen's only Mexico plant and is the only one worldwide to produce the new Beetle. The plant, which last year had record output of 425,703 vehicles, employs a total of about 16,000 workers. Around 80 percent of the cars Volkswagen produces in Puebla, a city about 40 miles (65 km) southeast of Mexico City, are exported. DA