MORE than 1,000 Ford office staff will strike today in an escalation of a long-running dispute.

Unite the Union said the car giant had launched a “direct attack” on the pay, terms and conditions of the workers in Dunton, Stratford, Dagenham, Daventry and Halewood.

Instead of a permanent pay increase, it has offered many of its office workers a one-off payment for 2024 and wants to impose 100 per cent performance-related pay from 2025 for all staff, Unite said. 

Ford also wants to change sick-pay policy and the collective bargaining agreement with the union.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The only reason for this is corporate greed. The company’s appalling treatment of our members has simply made them more determined to fight against these cruel and unnecessary changes and for a fair pay rise.”

Ford said its final offer of a 5 per cent total pay increase for 2023-24 is “fair and balanced.”