Dagenham: Ford Workers Set For Strike Ballot

27 January 2014, 11:16 | Updated: 27 January 2014, 11:22

Thousands of Ford car workers are to be balloted on strike action in a row over job security and pensions.

Members of Unite and the GMB based at sites including Dagenham in Essex, Bridgend in South Wales and Halewood on Merseyside, will vote in the coming weeks on whether to launch a campaign of industrial action.

Unite said workers were demanding commitments on job security in line with their counterparts in other EU countries, as well as improvements in their pension scheme.

National officer Roger Maddison said: "Ford workers in the UK are always on the front line when the company wants to axe staff. After successive rounds of job cuts, including the closure of the Southampton plant, staff now want Ford to make some commitments to job security going forward.

"This is not an unreasonable request, but the company is refusing to give its loyal UK workforce and their families some well-deserved rights in line with their EU counterparts.

"Workers are also angry that the company is refusing to look at ways to improve the pension scheme.

"Workers on the production line feel they have no choice and are balloting for strike action to get the company back around the negotiating table.''