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Ford staff begin 24-hour strike in pay and pension row | Ford staff begin 24-hour strike in pay and pension row |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Staff at car company Ford are staging a 24-hour strike in a dispute over pay and pensions. | |
Sites at Dagenham in Essex, Bridgend in South Wales, Halewood on Merseyside and Southampton will be affected. | Sites at Dagenham in Essex, Bridgend in South Wales, Halewood on Merseyside and Southampton will be affected. |
The Unite union said staff were "furious" at plans to shut the final salary pension scheme to new starters and lower their pay rates from 2013. | The Unite union said staff were "furious" at plans to shut the final salary pension scheme to new starters and lower their pay rates from 2013. |
A Ford spokesman said "the vast majority of the company's employees are not involved in this disagreement." | A Ford spokesman said "the vast majority of the company's employees are not involved in this disagreement." |
Unite, which represents about 1,200 white-collar employees at the car manufacturer, said 67% of staff voted in favour of industrial action after a ballot in May. | Unite, which represents about 1,200 white-collar employees at the car manufacturer, said 67% of staff voted in favour of industrial action after a ballot in May. |
Unite national officer Roger Maddison said: "Our staff members will not stand by and allow Ford to create a two-tier workforce on pay and pensions. To date, Ford has failed to make any genuine attempts to resolve this dispute. | Unite national officer Roger Maddison said: "Our staff members will not stand by and allow Ford to create a two-tier workforce on pay and pensions. To date, Ford has failed to make any genuine attempts to resolve this dispute. |
"We fiercely oppose the closure of Ford's final salary scheme to new entrants because we believe ultimately Ford will try to close the entire scheme." | "We fiercely oppose the closure of Ford's final salary scheme to new entrants because we believe ultimately Ford will try to close the entire scheme." |
The dispute does not involve production workers, but Unite said it believed the walkout would affect production. | The dispute does not involve production workers, but Unite said it believed the walkout would affect production. |
A Ford spokesman said: "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 ongoing pay and benefit negotiations. | A Ford spokesman said: "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 ongoing pay and benefit negotiations. |
"Ford remains willing and available to continue discussions with the union representing these workers." | "Ford remains willing and available to continue discussions with the union representing these workers." |
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