ST. PAUL, Minn. — A union leader says Ford Motor Co. has set a date for closing its St. Paul plant.

Chairman Jim Eagle of United Auto Workers Local 879 says Ford is saying the plant’s last day will be Dec. 22.

Ford spokeswoman Marcey Evans confirms that the plant closing would take place by year’s end, although she says the company hasn’t publicly disclosed the date.

The plant makes the Ranger pickup. Ford has confirmed that it will not sell the next generation of the small Ford Ranger pickup truck in North America.

The UAW represents 760 workers at the plant. Last year, state and local officials led a delegation to the automaker’s Dearborn, Mich., headquarters to make a pitch to keep the plant from closing.