Thousands of Nissan workers took to the streets of Barcelona yesterday for the third time this week to protest at the company's plan to lay off 1,680 workers.

The demonstration, which began at 7pm in the Plaza Urquinaona, passed off without incident as the protesters made their way to the regional government headquarters building in the Plaza San Jaume, where they were met by a representative from the Catalan government.

The trade unions are calling on regional and national government leaders to intervene directly with the management of the Nissan-Renault alliance to negotiate solutions for the companies' Spanish factories.

They also warn that this week's demonstrations may only be "the start of a grave social conflict" if Nissan is allowed to follow through with its plan to cut 1,680 jobs - or 40% of the total workforce - at its Zona Franca and Montcada i Reixac plants with inevitable knock-on effects for components manufacturers and other suppliers.