Ford workers to walk out on strike in row over pay and contract changes
More than 1,000 Ford workers at plants in Halewood, Merseyside, Dunton, Stratford, Dagenhgam and Daventry, are to strike tomorrow (October 30), in a row over pay and contract changes.
Trade union, Unite, confirmed the action as part of the long-running dispute involving the Ford administrative staff.
Unite said Ford has failed to offer its workers a permanent pay increase. Instead, the company has offered many of its office workers a one-off payment for 2024 and wants to impose 100% performance-related pay from 2025 for all staff.
Despite absence running at less than two per cent, Unite says Ford is also attempting to change the long-standing sick pay policy and wants to change the collective bargaining agreement with Unite.
Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “Despite its huge wealth, Ford has launched a direct attack on its office workers’ pay and terms and conditions. The only reason for this is corporate greed.
“The company’s appalling treatment of our members has simply made them more determined to fight against these cruel and unnecessary changes and for a fair pay rise. They have Unite’s total and unflinching support as they strike for a better deal.”
The workers, who began industrial action short of strike action on August 22, will walk out for 24 hours tomorrow. Strikes will intensify if the dispute is not resolved, the union warned.
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 pay offer of only a performance-related merit award, which they are not guaranteed to receive.
Unite said it has offered affordable and sensible counter proposals to end both disputes but Ford is refusing to engage in good faith negotiations.
Ford reported a full year net income of $4.3bn on revenues of $176bn for 2023, an increase of 11.4%. The adjusted EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) for 2023 was $10.4bn, while the outlook for 2024 is an adjusted EBIT of $10bn to $12bn.
Unite national officer Alison Spencer-Scragg said: “Ford’s attempt to bully its workers into ending industrial action and accepting completely unacceptable deals has failed miserably.
“Strike action will cause significant disruption to Ford’s operations and will continue to escalate. The only way this dispute will end is when Ford puts forward offers that our members can accept.”
In response, Ford said: “Considering the overall competitiveness of our general salary roll employee pay and benefits package, the company’s final offer of a five per cent 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.”
Ford owns a transmissions manufacturing site, which employs around 500 staff, at Halewood, next to the Jaguar Land Rover car plant.
In October 2021, Ford pledged investment worth around £230m, including a portion of funding from the Government, for the Halewood site, which is expected to start producing up to 250,000 electric power units a year from 2024.
