Workers at St. Paul's Ford plant are preparing for more mandatory time off. Sales of the Ford Ranger small pickup truck, which is assembled at the plant, were down more than 40 percent last month.

To cut down on inventory, the Highland Park plant will be temporarily idled for two weeks this winter. The first furlough is scheduled to begin at the end of today. The second week will be scheduled in March.

St. Paul Ford workers just got back from an extended six-week holiday period furlough. UAW Local President Roger Terveen says he expects the furloughs to continue.

"It looks like there's going to be more time off for the rest of the year, too, but overall I guess to say the least, working some is better than working not at all," said Terveen said.

Ford officials say the Ranger pickup will stay in production, and debut with a 2010 model that has new safety features exclusive to the American-made small truck market.

Ford had originally planned to permanently close the St. Paul plant in 2008. But, after Ranger sales improved last year, the company announced the factory would keep operating until 2011.