Staff working for Ford UK to strike for 24 hours

More than 1,000 employees at Ford are to strike for 24 hours in a dispute over pay and contract changes.

Administrative staff working at the company’s sites across the UK will walk out on Wednesday, 30 October.

The Unite union has warned there will be more strikes if the dispute is not resolved.

But Ford said the total pay increase that has been offered is “fair and balanced”.

The strike will affect Ford’s sites in Dunton in Essex, Stratford, Dagenham in east London, Daventry in Northamptonshire, and Halewood on Merseyside.

The Unite union had called for its workers to receive a permanent pay raise.

Instead, Ford has only offered a one-off payment for 2024.

The union also stated the car manufacturer was wrong for wanting to introduce 100% performance-related pay and to change the policy on sick pay.

Unite’s general secretary, Sharon Graham, called it a “direct attack”.

“The only reason for this is corporate greed,” she said.

“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.”

Managers at Ford are also in dispute with the company over pay but so far have only taken action short of a strike.

The union has labelled Ford a bully and accused it of refusing to engage in “good faith” negotiations.

But the car company has disagreed with this.

In a statement, it said: “Considering the overall competitiveness of our general salary roll employee pay and benefits package, the company’s final offer of a 5% 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.”