Threat of strike action by Ford workers

The union Unite has warned Ford is facing the prospect of strikes across its UK sites by white-collared workers unless it attends negotiations.

It has been told it must attend talks with the conciliation service Acas or Unite will begin preparing to ballot its members for industrial action.

Offers put forward by Ford for more than 3,000 salaried staff and managers have been rejected by more than 90% by both sets of workers, the union said.

It claimed that the offer for many of the salaried staff is an unconsolidated one-off payment of 5% of their salary for 2024, meaning their actual wages will not increase this year.

Management grades, who have recently organised and achieved union recognition, have been offered a performance related bonus payment, which provides no guarantee of a cost-of-living increase, it added. 

In addition, it said that the company has proposed changes to the current absence processes, despite acknowledging there is no issue with staff attendance.

Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “Ford is acting out of corporate greed with its offers of one-off payments and variable bonuses.

“It is extremely profitable and can fully afford to put forward proper no strings pay offers for these workers.

“Unite does not tolerate attacks on our members’ jobs, pay or conditions and Ford’s salaried and managerial staff have their union’s full support.”

Following the rejection of the pay offers by Unite’s members, the union requested Ford enter talks mediated by Acas, which it says the company has refused to do.

The workers are based at Ford sites across the country, including Dunton, Stratford, Dagenham, Daventry and Halewood.

Unite national officer, Allison Spencer-Scragg, said: “Ford’s workforce has rightly rejected these unacceptable pay offers.

“Anger amongst our members is such that if Ford continues to refuse to attend Acas talks, Unite will have no choice but to begin proceedings to hold a formal ballot for industrial action. I urge Ford to reconsider its position.”

Ford told Fleet News that it has been in pay negotiations with employees since the end of last year, as its previous two-year deal ends. 

The spokesperson added: "Whilst trade union members have voted internally at a members vote to reject the company’s offer, Ford remains willing to continue dialogue through our established bargaining frameworks on the fair and balanced offer made."