FORD WORKERS VOTE FOR STRIKE ACTION

AMEMO has confirmed Ford workers have voted for strike action and crunch talks with the company are planned. The ballot came after months of anxiety over the future of the car giant’s Bridgend plant.

“On Thursday, 17 August, shop stewards met with the Wales secretary Andy Richards at Swansea to receive the results of the Unite industrial action ballot, which has been emailed and posted to all members,” the note said.

“The results provide a clear mandate from the Unite hourly paid members for strike action or action short of a strike in support of our campaign to save Bridgend engine plant.”

It’s understood 52.1% of them said they were prepared to take part in strike action.

And 71.9% were ready to take other forms of industrial action.

The document said the shop stewards’ committee wished to thank its members for “supporting the call for industrial action as a means to persuade the company to enter into meaningful talks.”

“During this crucial time it is important that everyone is kept up to date with campaign activity,” it said.

According to the despatch, plant convenor Andrew Pearson met with Unite officers to discuss the ballot on Friday.

It’s understood Unite regional officer Bryan Godsell, legal officer John Toner and Mary William of the “strategy support unit” attended.

“The results were discussed detail,” the memo said. in

“Given the results it’s clear that a strategy now needs to be formulated with the aim of persuading the company to have meaningful talks about the protection of jobs and the future security of the plant.”

It’s understood that on Monday Unite’s national officer will meet the shop stewards’ committee to discuss their next move.

On August 24 a meeting between the union and Ford management will be held.

“It is hoped during this meeting the company will respond positively, now that the membership has given a clear mandate for official industrial action,” the document said.

“Until further notice, members are expected to continue to work as normal, pending updates from the shop stewards’ committee after negotiation with the company.”

The Bridgend engine plant employs 1,760 people, but concerns for the site have been increasing.

There have been reports Ford has drawn up plans to axe around 600 workers by 2021. In March the GMB said more than 1,000 will go in the com ing years. T h e y dubbed it their “worst nightmare”. F o r d could not be reached for com- ment at the time of publication.

But a spokesman said this week: “As we have consistently stated, Ford remains committed to ongoing constructive dialogue with our union partners, and we have proposed a dedicated work stream to examine future business opportunities for the Bridgend operation.

“We consider the recent industrial action ballot to have been premature, given that the opportunity for productive engagement, in line with established employee relations and working practices, has been and continues to be readily available.

“We also confirmed approval last year for a £100m investment for a new engine for Bridgend, and the plant remains full for the immediate future.

A spokesman for Unite said: “We’re not saying anything at the moment.

“Our officials are continuing to meet with members.”