Ford UK says there is still a chance for last minute negotiations to avert a threatened strike next week by union staff protesting against what they claim are pension changes.
The automaker has delivered a robust response to today’s (15 June) news of the Unite union’s decision to stage a two-day strike next week concerning final pension arrangements and pay structure.
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“The issue giving rise to the industrial action relates to a disagreement between the company and a particular group of its employees in relation to their on-going pay and benefit negotiations,” says a statement emailed to just-auto.
“Ford remains willing and available to continue discussions with the union representing these workers. The vast majority of the company’s employees are not involved in this disagreement, or the decision to take industrial action.”
Unite says staff voted by 67% on a 100% turnout for strike action on 22 May, but the union agreed to postpone announcing the ballot result to the public to allow further negotiations with the company to take place.
However, the union has also left the door slightly ajar for eve-of-strike talks with national officer, Roger Maddison noting:
“To date Ford has failed to make any genuine attempts to resolve this dispute. Unless there is a last minute change of heart from the company Ford faces a national strike this Monday.”
Final salary pensions are at the heart of several major disputes in the UK, with dozens of large companies attempting to plug enormous black holes in retirement fund deficits.
Generous settlements agreed many years ago are now posing headaches for many large organisations as life expectancy is increasing rapidly, while the economic downturn is equally stretching company contributions.
Should action occur, Unite says it will take place at Ford’s manufacturing engine/stamping and diesel centre, Daventry; the Transit assembly plant, Southampton; Ford of Britain headquarters, Warley and the design and technical centre, Dunton, Basildon.
Ford has previously said it “categorically confirmed it had no plans to close its pension funds to existing members and that the funds remain open to existing members.”
