150 contracted workers at Ford Dagenham and Ford Dunton Technical Centre are set to receive a 3% pay rise.
The deal, negotiated by the cleaners' representative Unite the Union and Hamton Environmental cleaning contractors, the organisation which supplies the workers to Ford, could see their pay increase by up to £500 per year with the new pay deal. They will also see their pay backdated to 1 January 2020.
Additionally, the workers will see improvements to their contracts which includes long-service awards and new attendance bonus schemes. Cleaners who are first aid qualified will also receive an extra £25 per week.
Matt Smith, regional officer at Unite, said: “We welcome this inflation-busting pay rise offer for some of the lowest paid workers in the automotive sector.
“Unite, with our Hamton reps, recommended this deal to our members for endorsement which has been overwhelmingly accepted, following tough, but constructive negotiations with the company.
“We are especially pleased as it included additional money for volunteer first aiders and a new attendance bonus for employees which could see an employee with 100% annual attendance rewarded with £500 extra pay.
“During the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) crisis, many of these cleaners have stepped up to the plate working tirelessly so that the much-needed ventilators for the NHS could be produced at Dagenham during the lockdown.
“We would certainly urge more employers to reward those prepared to save lives in the workplace, especially at this time.
“Given the particularly difficult circumstances facing the automotive sector due to Coronavirus, Brexit uncertainty and the abject failure of this government to formulate a comprehensive industrial strategy, this package demonstrates just how important it is for workers to belong to a trade union which delivers for its members.”
