Ford Dagenham is a historic facility for The Blue Oval that has operated continuously since 1919. Today, the plant produces key engines for the automaker, but it also has some issues that need to be addressed, according to recent actions taken by Unite.
In a press release issued this week, Unite, the union representing a broad swath of workers at Ford Dagenham, stated that warehouse workers employed by Lineside Logistics are holding a ballot to gauge if there is enough support for a strike action. The move comes after they rejected an offer for a 2.5 percent raise offer due to cleaning and facilities workers at the same company getting a superior five percent offer. Additionally, warehouse workers expressed deep dissatisfaction with the toilets and said sewage and blocked drains have resulted in waste backflow events.
Amid those issues is anger over a claimed retaliatory firing from the company after a Unite member advocating for improved conditions got dismissed for reasons the union says were spurious. “Lineside Logistics workers are being treated as second class employees – expected to take smaller pay increases, put up with disgusting toilet facilities and have their colleagues targeted because they are in a union. Unite never accepts attacks on our members’ jobs, pay or conditions and Lineside Logistics’ Ford Dagenham workforce have their union’s full support,” said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham.
The ballot calling for strike action is open until December 11th, 2024. Any strike could greatly impact Ford Dagenham production as the company handles engine parts delivery. Currently, the facility manufactures the Ford 3.0L V6 diesel and 2.0L diesel engines at the plant, among other products. This latest move by Unite comes not long after administrative workers directly employed by Ford recently engaged in strike actions of their own, as talks between the union and the automaker broke down.
Ford also faces additional headwinds in Europe and announced its intention to cut 4,000 positions from its workforce, a move that will also impact its operations in the UK. Ford Dagenham is not expected to be impacted by the cuts, and the automaker aims to reduce its workforce in the country via voluntary retirements.
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