Ford UK workers start week of industrial action over pay

Administrative staff working for Ford in the UK on Monday kicked off a week of ‘targeted industrial action’ as a long-running row over pay and contract changes rumbles on.

Unite members at Ford’s Dagenham engine plant will be picketing all week starting at 7am each day, while Ford Speke workers will strike from Wednesday to Friday from 6am, the union said.

It follows a day of strike action on 30 October, with workers in Dunton, Stratford, Dagenham, Daventry and Halewood withdrawing their labour.

It is part of a row over Ford’s offer to many office workers of a one-off payment for 2024, rather than permanent salary rises, and the imposition of performance-related pay from next year.

There is also a dispute over proposed changes to Ford’s long-standing sick pay policy and its collective bargaining agreement with Unite.

And Unite has warned strikes will intensify if the dispute is not resolved.

For its part, Ford insists its offer is competitive and above inflation, with workers having received double-digit pay growth over the last years. 

Workers, it says, also enjoy an attractive pension and benefits. 

But Unite general secretary Sharon Graham described Ford’s offer as ‘a direct assault on its office workers’ pay and conditions for no other reason than corporate greed’.

She added: ‘Unite never accepts attacks on our members’ jobs, pay or conditions and Ford’s workforce have their union’s total backing.’ 

Unite Union General Secretary Sharon Graham at the Labour Party conference in September

A Ford spokesman said: ‘Considering the overall competitiveness of our general salary roll employee pay and benefits package, and the series of strong annual increases amounting to 20 per cent over the past two years, the company’s final offer of a 5 percent total pay increase for 2023/24 is fair and balanced.

‘We will continue to engage with Unite and our valued employees and endeavour to resolve the matter.’

Separately, Ford managers represented by Unite are also in dispute with the company over pay.

They have been ‘taking action short of strike action’ over Ford’s proposed performance related merit award, which they are not guaranteed to receive.

Alison Spencer-Scragg, Unite national officer, said: ‘Our members will not back down and are increasingly angry about Ford’s attacks on their pay and conditions.

‘This dispute and the disruption it is causing to Ford’s operations will continue to worsen until the company puts forwards acceptable offers to both its admin staff and managers.’

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