Ford managers in the UK to decide on industrial action

Hundreds of Ford staff in the UK are battling the car sales firm's plans to replace a pay rise with a one-off payment this year and introduce performance-related pay from 2025.

The union Unite says Ford has been "bullying" its workers who are involved in the industrial action, and it claims morale is "at an all time low".

Reuters reported last month that Ford planned yet more restructuring of its workforce in the UK, Germany and Spain, which comes after it announced in 2023 it would cut 3,800 jobs in Europe as it shifts toward electric vehicle production.

Some UK redundancies took place last month.

Leading to the pay dispute, Ford has only offered many of its office workers a non-consolidated one-off payment for 2024, rather than a pay rise, Unite said, and Ford wants to impose 100% performance related pay from 2025.

It also seeks to reduce sick pay and change the collective bargaining agreement with Unite. The Ford office workers organised and achieved union recognition in 2023.

Now more than 1,200 "white collar workers" at Ford's sites in Dunton, Stratford, Dagenham, Daventry and Halewood are being balloted until August 7 for strike action.

Unite said around 500 Ford managers already have been working to rule and refusing overtime, in response to Ford's pay offer of only a performance-related merit award, which they are not guaranteed to receive and which Unite deemed "real term pay cuts".

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% in fighting back.”

Unite pointed out that Ford made some $4 billion globally in 2023.

In the UK, however, Ford's share of the new car market has shrunk to below 8% - in 2013 it sold 311,000 new cars while it 2023 it sold just 144,000 after shrinking its model range, including culling the Focus and Fiesta.

It is in the process of slashing its retail network too.

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.”

AM asked Ford for responses to Unite's claims, and received the following:

"We will continue to engage with Unite and our employees on a fair and balanced offer that reflects an already highly competitive pay and benefits package," said the vehicle manufacturer.