Unions threaten mass action over Ford closure

Workers at a Ford car plant were meeting today to plan a campaign of opposition to the factory’s planned closure, including the threat of industrial action.

The motor giant announced last week that the site at Aveley in Essex, where pre-production cars are built, is to close with the loss of 150 jobs.

Ford said technological advances had reduced by 40% the number of prototype vehicles required before production.

Union leaders have accused Ford of breaching agreements and warned of a national dispute.

Dave Osborne, British national official of the Transport and General Workers Union, said: “We don’t think Ford has treated alternative proposals seriously.”

Duncan Simpson, British national officer of Amicus, said: “This is Ford’s third breach of an agreement they signed in 2001, guaranteeing no further UK plant closures.

“Amicus and the other unions involved are prepared to go to the whole Ford workforce to ask for their support in opposing the closure.”

Workers will hold a mass meeting today and will be urged by union leaders to oppose the closure.