Ford facing potential strike of 3,000 UK white-collar workers

london – Ford More than 3,000 white-collar workers across the UK could launch strike action after union members rejected the US car giant’s pay proposals, it warned on Wednesday.

Unite, one of the UK’s largest unions, said the company had so far refused to come to the bargaining table despite its offer of salaried staff and managers being rejected by more than 90 per cent of workers in both groups.

The union has warned Ford it will start voting on potential strike action against its members if it does not join talks with Acas, the UK’s independent mediation body. This will take place at Ford plants across the country from Liverpool to Essex.

Unite described Ford’s offer to many salaried staff as “an unconsolidated one-off payment of 5% of their 2024 salaries, meaning their effective pay will not increase this year”.

Members of management positions were said to have received “performance-related bonuses, but this does not guarantee an increase in the cost of living”.

Workers in Britain’s public and private sectors have gone on strike in recent years as an inflation-fueled cost-of-living crisis hit real wages and household bills.

Ford said it has been in salary negotiations with employee representatives since late last year as the first two years of the agreement ended.

“While union members rejected the company’s proposal in an internal vote, Ford remains open to continued dialogue on fair and balanced proposals through our established bargaining framework,” the company said.

Unite also claims that despite Ford acknowledging employee attendance is not an issue, it is proposing changes to the current absence process.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said in a statement: “Ford’s actions were motivated by corporate greed, offering lump sums and variable bonuses. The company is hugely profitable and is fully capable of providing these workers with appropriate unconditional benefits. Salary.”

“United will not tolerate attacks on our members’ jobs, wages or conditions, and Ford’s salaried employees and managers have the union’s full support.”

Ford reported stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter profits last week, with full-year adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of $10.42 billion on revenue of $176.2 billion.

“Ford employees are right to reject these unacceptable pay offers,” United national officer Alison Spencer-Scragg said.

“Our members are furious and if Ford continues to refuse to attend Acas talks, Unite will have no choice but to start a formal vote on strike action. I urge Ford to reconsider its position.”