Read this article in:
20 November, 2000As U.S. car company confirms its decision to shut down operations in Dagenham, 8,500 workers cast their votes.
GREAT BRITAIN: The Transport and General Workers' Union has started a ballot of Ford workers at Dagenham for possible strike action over the company's plans to end car production in the UK. Altogether, about 8,500 workers, representing the entire workforce at the Ford Dagenham plant, will cast votes.
The crisis began when Ford Motor Company announced on May 12, 2000, that by early 2002 it would cease car production at its huge Dagenham complex (see associated link). On November 2, the company confirmed, as part of its European-wide restructuring plan, its decision, causing great anger among the workers and the trade unions.
The UK unions believe that the relatively low cost of laying off workers in the UK is behind the U.S. car giant's decision to cut jobs in Dagenham. Tony Woodley, the T&G's chief negotiator for the car industry, declared that "they are doing this because they know our workers are cheap, quick and easy to sack. If they tried to do this anywhere else in Europe it would be illegal."
It has been reported that, upon the closure of the car assembly operations in 2002, Ford plans to build a new diesel engine plant at its Dagenham plant, creating 500 new jobs.
The crisis began when Ford Motor Company announced on May 12, 2000, that by early 2002 it would cease car production at its huge Dagenham complex (see associated link). On November 2, the company confirmed, as part of its European-wide restructuring plan, its decision, causing great anger among the workers and the trade unions.
The UK unions believe that the relatively low cost of laying off workers in the UK is behind the U.S. car giant's decision to cut jobs in Dagenham. Tony Woodley, the T&G's chief negotiator for the car industry, declared that "they are doing this because they know our workers are cheap, quick and easy to sack. If they tried to do this anywhere else in Europe it would be illegal."
It has been reported that, upon the closure of the car assembly operations in 2002, Ford plans to build a new diesel engine plant at its Dagenham plant, creating 500 new jobs.