Ford staff strike

Ford staff at sites in Basildon, Bridgend, Dagenham, Daventry, Dunton, Halewood, Southampton and the motor company’s headquarters in Warley were out on strike for 24 hours on Monday 18 June.

The dispute, involving members of Unite and the GMB, concerns the closure of the final salary pension scheme to new starters, and lower rates of pay.

The proposed pay cut would create a two-tier workforce with new entrants paid significantly less (10%) than existing staff doing the same work, with no mechanism for progression.

Unite national officer Roger Maddison described the plans as totally unacceptable: “Ford must prove that it is committed to the UK by investing in its UK workforce. The UK has the best sales in Europe, there’s no excuse to attack the terms and conditions of a new generation of Ford staff.”