Hundreds of Ford workers on the edge of Basildon are set to walk out for 24 hours in nationwide action over pay and contract changes, a union has revealed.

The strike action, which involves more than 200 staff at Ford in Dunton and more than 1,000 workers across the UK, will begin tomorrow for 24 hours.

According to Unite, the UK's biggest union, the action is the result of a long-standing dispute over pay and contract changes.

The workers involved are administrative staff from various sites, including Dunton, Stratford, Dagenham, Daventry, and Halewood.

Unite claim that Ford has failed to offer its workers a permanent pay increase.

They add, that instead, the company has offered many of its office workers a one-off payment for 2024 and wants to impose 100 per cent performance related pay from 2025 for all staff.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Despite its huge wealth, Ford has launched a direct attack on its office workers’ pay and terms and conditions.

"The only reason for this is corporate greed.

"The company’s appalling treatment of our members has simply made them more determined to fight against these cruel and unnecessary changes and for a fair pay rise.

"They have Unite’s total and unflinching support as they strike for a better deal."

The workers began industrial action short of a strike on August 22, and are now set to walk out for 24 hours tomorrow.

The union has warned that strikes will intensify if the dispute is not resolved.

Gavin Callaghan, leader of Basildon Council, said: "Working people have to ensure that the wages they receive are enough to be able to provide for the family and live a good quality of life.

"If people are not feeling valued in the workplace and their terms and conditions are not being respected then they have every right to withdraw their labour.

"I hope that the union, the workers and Fords can hammer out a negotiation that suits all suits sooner rather than later."

Managers at Ford, also represented by Unite, are in a similar dispute with the company over pay.

They have been taking action short of a strike over Ford’s pay offer of a performance-related merit award, which they are not guaranteed to receive, it is claimed.

In response to the strike action and claims, a spokesman for Ford said: "Considering the overall competitiveness of our General Salary Roll employee pay and benefits package, the company's final offer of a 5 percent total pay increase for 2023/24 is fair and balanced.

"We will continue to engage with Unite and our valued employees and endeavour to resolve the matter."