Car giant Ford is facing strikes by white collar workers in Essex amid claims of an “unprecedented breakdown” in industrial relations.

Unite said more than 1,200 office staff based at Ford plants - including the Dunton site - will be balloted for industrial action in a dispute over pay.

About 500 Ford managers in the union have already voted for industrial action and are taking action short of strikes.

The workers are based at Ford plants in Dunton, Essex; Stratford and Dagenham, both east London; Daventry, Northants; and Halewood, near Liverpool.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Morale amongst Ford’s white collar workers is at an all-time low and the company is facing an unprecedented breakdown in industrial relations.

“Ford has caused this by offering real terms pay cuts disguised as increases, as well as by its attacks on terms and conditions and collective bargaining.

“Ford’s behaviour throughout both sets of pay negotiations has been atrocious. It is an extremely wealthy company and its only motivation is greed. Unite will be supporting our members 100 per cent in fighting back.”

Unite said the company has offered many of its office workers a non-consolidated one-off payment for 2024 rather than a pay rise.

A Ford spokesman said: “We will continue to engage with Unite and our employees on a fair and balanced offer that reflects an already highly competitive pay and benefits package.”