More than 1,000 Ford employees to strike in UK from tomorrow as tensions soar

More than 1,000 Ford employees are set to strike for 24 hours on Wednesday, according to the Unite union – hours before Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivers her crunch Autumn Budget.

Administrative workers in Dunton, Stratford, Dagenham, Daventry, and Halewood look set to walk out over a row over pay and contract changes, with the union Unite warninjg of further action if no settlement follows.

A Unite spokesperson said: “Strikes will intensify if the dispute is not resolved.”

Ford reported a full year net income of $4.3bn (£3.3bn) on revenues of $176bn (£135bn) for 2023 – an increase of 11.4 per cent.

The adjusted EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) for 2023 was $10.4bn (£8bn), while the outlook for 2024 is an adjusted EBIT of $10bn (£7.7bn) to $12bn (£9.2bn).

Ford is understood to have offered several office workers a one-off payment for this year as opposed to giving them a permanent pay rise.

Performance-related pay will be imposed from 2025 for all staff, according to Sky News.

Unite said that despite absence being less than 2%, it is also seeking changes to sick pay policy and its own bargaining agreement.

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.”

The workers began industrial action short of strike action on August 22, but will now walk out for 24 hours on October 30. 

Ford managers represented by Unite are also in dispute with the company over pay.

They have been taking action short of strike action over Ford’s pay offer of only a performance related merit award, which they are not guaranteed to receive.

Unite said 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: “Ford’s attempt to bully its workers into ending industrial action and accepting completely unacceptable deals has failed miserably.

“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.”

Ford has been approached for comment.