Ford staff strike over pay and pensions

Earlier this month white collar staff at the Ford car company voted for strike action for the first time ever. Unions representing professional staff - engineers, IT and admin workers - rejected the company's pay offer and protested over Ford's proposals on pensions.

Industry and services union MSF argues that the company intends to raid the £507 million surplus in the white collar pension fund to cover a deficit in the hourly paid workers' fund. It also believes that Ford want to use the surplus to fund a cut in hours for hourly paid staff.

MSF national secretary Terry Pye said: "Many professional staff in Ford who have long service and are looking forward to a well-earned, comfortable retirement understandably feel Ford's plan to merge the two funds threatens their financial security."