rnFord is to blame for an ‘unprecedented breakdown in industrial relations’ with its white collar staff, Unite said, as more than 1,200 office staff ballot for strike actionacross the country.
Article continues below
br>
Around 500 Ford managers already have an industrial action mandate and are continuing with industrial action short of strikes.
Both sets of workers, who are based in Dunton, Stratford, Dagenham, Daventry and Halewood, are in dispute with Ford over real terms pay cuts disguised as wage increases and are considering coordinated strike action.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Morale amongst Ford’s white collar workers is at an all time low and the company is facing an unprecedented breakdown in industrial relations. Ford has caused this by offering real terms pay cuts disguised as increases, as well as by its attacks on terms and conditions and collective bargaining.
“Ford’s behaviour throughout both sets of pay negotiations has been atrocious. It is an extremely wealthy company and its only motivation is greed. Unite will be supporting our members 100 per cent in fighting back.â€
The company has only offered many of its office workers a non-consolidated one-off payment for 2024 rather than a pay rise and wants to impose 100 per cent performance related pay from 2025. It is also attempting to reduce sick pay and change the collective bargaining agreement with Unite.
Ford managers are in dispute over the company’s offer of only a performance related merit award, which they are not guaranteed to receive.
Unite has offered affordable and sensible counter proposals to end both disputes however Ford is refusing to engage in good faith negotiations.
Ford reported a full year net income of $4.3 billion on revenues of $176 billion for 2023 – an increase of 11.4 per cent. The adjusted EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) for 2023 was $10.4 billion, while the outlook for 2024 is an adjusted EBIT of $10 billion to $12 billion.
Unite national officer Alison Spenser-Scragg said: “In response to the pay disputes, Ford has engaged in a campaign of bullying and threats against these workers. Its tactics have not only failed but strengthened our members’ resolve.
“There is a strong possibility of coordinated strike action involving over 1,800 workers unless Ford scraps its plans and comes back with acceptable offers.â€
The office staff are being balloted until 7 August and the managers will resume their industrial action sort of strikes on 25 July. ■