24-hour strike to begin tomorrow in long-running dispute over pay and contract changes
Workers at a Merseyside Ford factory will walk out on strike tomorrow as part of a national day of action. Over 1,000 administrative staff are set to take part in the 24-hour walk-out tomorrow.
This will include staff from Ford’s Halewood plant in Knowsley as well as at sites in Dunton, Stratford, Dagenham, Daventry and Halewood. Workers have been taking part in action short of a strike since August 22 in a row over pay and contract changes, but this will be escalated to a 24-hour strike on October 30. The Unite union says the strikes will intensify if the ongoing dispute is not resolved.
Unite claims that Ford has failed to offer its workers a permanent pay increase, instead offering many of its office workers a one-off payment for 2024. The union also say Ford wants to impose 100 per cent performance related pay from 2025 for all staff. The union A union spokesperson said that despite absence running at less than two per cent, Ford is “attempting to change the long-standing sick pay policy and also wants to change the collective bargaining agreement with Unite.”
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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.”
Ford managers represented by Unite are also in dispute with the company over pay. They have been taking action short of a strike over Ford’s pay offer of only a performance related merit award, which they are not guaranteed to receive. Unite says it has offered affordable and sensible counter proposals to end both disputes but claims Ford is refusing to engage in good faith negotiations.
Unite national officer Alison Spencer-Scragg said: “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.”
A spokesperson for Ford said: “Considering the overall competitiveness of our General Salary Roll employee pay and benefits package, 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.”