Ford strikes deal with union

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4 October 2011 Last updated at 17:21 GMT Ford says it plans to transfer work to the US from overseas if the pay deal is ratified US carmaker, Ford, says it has agreed in principle to a four-year pay deal with the United Auto Workers union.

Ford says the settlement will make it more competitive in its home market.

Exact details are being withheld until the UAW's members have a chance to review the contract.

However Ford has already announced it plans to invest an additional $4.8bn (￡3.1bn) in its US factories and to create 5,750 jobs by 2015.

It says the move will include transfering work to the US that is currently carried out in Mexico, China and Japan.

The pledge adds to the 7,000 new posts the firm previously promised to introduce by the end of 2012.

The UAW also revealed that workers are set to receive improved profit-share bonus payments.

Following GM

The announcement comes less than a week after the UAW secured a separate deal with Ford's rival, General Motors.

GM agreed to pay workers a $5,000 bonus for signing the agreement, an extra $1,000 a year to cover inflation and a further pay rise for entry level workers. Ford's agreement is expected to at least partly mirror these points.

UAW's president, Bob King, said the deals signal that "the American auto industry is on its way back".

A statement from the union notes that negotiations continue with the third biggest US carmaker, Chrysler.

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Unions planning 'UK-wide strikes'

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14 September 2011 Last updated at 00:01 GMT By John Moylan Employment correspondent, BBC News The unions are threathening mass strike action Trade unions have drawn up plans for a widespread campaign of industrial action over government plans for public sector pensions, the BBC has learned.

Until now it was thought there would be a single day of action in November, but a senior union leader has confirmed the action will be more sustained.

Industrial action, potentially involving millions of workers, could start by late November.

Unions plan to follow up the strikes with co-ordinated action across the UK.

'Co-ordinated action'

"The idea that we will have a one-day dispute, marching around town with a few flags... ain't going to do it," said the union leader.

When asked specifically whether there would be a number of one-day national strikes, he replied "yep".

"In some areas there will be two or three days," said the union leader.

"In other areas it will be continuous. In other areas it will be a rolling programme."

'Big three'

He added: "There are lists that are being drawn up of targeted areas."

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I think you are going to see the biggest financial-gathering exercise by the trade unions so that you can keep people out”

End Quote Union boss The three biggest public sector unions - Unison, Unite and the GMB - are thought to be close to announcing a strike ballot over planned pension reforms.

Between them they would have to ballot around 1.5 million members, ranging from the health sector to local government.

The involvement of the "big three" unions would significantly escalate the dispute and could bring millions of workers out on strike.

More details could emerge at the TUC conference on Wednesday when the key debate on public sector pensions will take place.

The government is seeking increases in pension contributions from next April, while millions of workers continue to face a pay freeze.

The senior union leader confirmed that preparation for the confrontation had been under way for months.

To prevent lower paid union workers suffering hardship through lost earnings, the unions are planning a major fund-raising drive.

"I think you are going to see the biggest financial-gathering exercise by the trade unions so that you can keep people out," he said.

But one economic think tank said any move towards sustained industrial action could not be justified.

Mark Littlewood from the right-leaning Institute for Economic Affairs, said public sector workers were not "the oppressed poor" and also enjoyed "unbelievable job security, more generous annual holidays".

"Your average worker in the public sector earns 4k more a year in their salary, if you start building in their pensions about ￡7,000 a year more.

"Overall, average to average, [they are] 35%, maybe 40% richer than the average private sector worker," Mr Littlewood said.

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