Ford cars expected to be hit by delivery drivers strike

[Daily News Editor]

Ford cars expected to be hit by delivery drivers strike

Deliveries of new Ford cars to showrooms across the United Kingdom are expected to be hit from today by strike action at Ansa Logistics Ltd by members of the Transport and General Workers Union. Three hundred and fifty drivers, fitters and support staff have started the two weeks of action in protest at what senior union officials described as the “imposition of wage cuts and compulsory redundancies plus the termination of substantial parts of the union’s national agreement.” Ansa’s main bases at Dagenham, Southampton and Liverpool will be affected as will the much smaller operation at Moss End in Scotland.

Ron Webb, T&G national secretary, said this morning that the strike will involve half the union membership this week with the other half taking action next week. Deliveries of new vehicles, he predicted, would be “seriously affected within days if not crippled” and he urged Ansa to think again with their client Ford. “Our people bear the heavy responsibility of transporting brand new Ford motors across the UK and it is right they should defend themselves,” said Mr. Webb. “I’d say the mood of our drivers and support staff is one of a strong determination to fight back.”

Industrial relations at Ansa have been fraught with tension in recent years. Just over two years ago a package of wage reductions was agreed by the union as part of a longer term deal which guaranteed job security. Since then attempts have been made to force through further cuts. These have led to ballots for strike action but not until today has a ballot led to action being taken. Mr. Webb said this time it seemed clear Ansa and Ford intend to impose their will.

“Ansa and Ford have not been easy to deal with,” he continued. “The goalposts in our negotiations seem to shift all the time. First it was wage cuts and compulsory redundancies. Then improved productivity was added and then increased flexibility was demanded. Against this background our people have said enough. We’ll strike to defend our pay, terms and conditions.”

Ansa vehicles carry between eight and sixteen cars each and deliver to Ford showrooms across the UK. The T&G said that as far as they were concerned the company now intends to impose wage cuts and compulsory redundancies as a ninety day consultation period ends today. “The irony of this is that in spite of all the problems, tensions and wavering trust in Ansa, we were prepared to talk about voluntary measures,” added Mr. Webb. “We are where we are because of the imposition by Ansa.”
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