Ford cleaners pay win

Cleaners at Ford Dagenham and the Ford Dunton Technical Centre in Essex have accepted a 5.1 per cent pay rise for 2022, Unite the union announced today (January 31).

Over 150 cleaners, employed by Hamton Environmental Services cleaning contractors, have overwhelmingly voted to accept a one year 5.1 per cent pay deal backdated to 1 January 2022. The pay deal also included a commitment by senior management to sit down with Unite to discuss specific concerns members face regarding the company’s sickness policy in an effort to try to reach agreement.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “This significant pay victory ensures some of the lowest paid workers in the automotive sector are not left behind as workers across the UK face the cost of living crisis.

“Non-union workers in the notoriously low paid contract cleaning sector will have little hope of achieving a pay award such as this as individuals – that’s why it is time for them to get organised, join Unite and make a real difference to their working lives.”

Unite regional officer Matt Smith added, “The commitment by the senior management to agree to seriously discuss our members’ issues over sickness also went a long way in reaching agreement on this pay deal and we look forward to addressing these concerns with the senior management in the future.”

Unite is dedicated to advancing the jobs, pay and conditions of its members and will fight back against any efforts to diminish workers’ living standards.

By Shaun Noble