Ford Workers Will Escalate Strike As Negotiations Stall

Back in June, Ford workers in the UK that are represented by the union known as Unite threatened to go on strike over a dispute in terms of pay raises. Then, just a couple of weeks ago, Unite announced that more than 1,000 Ford administrative workers in Dunton, Stratford, Dagenham, Daventry, and Halewood were indeed set to walk off the job site as the two sides simply can’t seem to come to terms on proposed pay increases and benefits changes. Now, those same workers are preparing to do precisely that as Unite and Ford UK still haven’t come to any sort of agreement.

Unite has announced that strikes will begin today at the Ford Dagenham Engine plant, while the Speke plant will also go on strike starting Wednesday, both of which will last for just a few days, tentatively. This follows a one-day strike that took place back on October 30^th, and Unite added that it will expand its strike actions if its dispute with the automaker is not resolved in a timely manner.

According to the union, Ford is refusing to offer workers a permanent pay increase, and instead, is proposing a one-time payment for office workers this year, after which it wants to implement 100 percent performance related pay in 2025. The Blue Oval is also aiming to revise its sick pay policy and its collective bargaining agreement with Unite. Additionally, Ford managers in the UK are being offered a performance related merit award that they are not guaranteed to receive.

“Ford has launched a direct assault on its office workers’ pay and conditions for no other reason than corporate greed. It is an appalling way to behave by a company that is already massively wealthy. Unite never accepts attacks on our members’ jobs, pay or conditions and Ford’s workforce have their union’s total backing,” said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham. “Our members will not back down and are increasingly angry about Ford’s attacks on their pay and conditions, added Unite national officer Alison Spencer-Scragg. “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.”