The Ford strike was the most significant private sector dispute for many years. It has resulted in an undoubted victory -shop stewards were correct to judge that more could have been exacted from a worried Ford management if the deal had been rejected.
The wage settlement of 14 per cent over two years is likely to set the pace for wage settlements throughout private industry despite government attempts to prevent this. It is also likely to promote struggen se outone seclor where the Ford workers suçCONS • wil make. Ihatcner even hold down wages The final deal was ac* cepted by all Ford plants except the Dagenham assembly Dlanli Wile el VOLCU ficials. led by the AEU's Jimmy Airlie. who had recommended earlier support of the company's three year deal, rejected.
. rushed to claim стели от и vco wicu. left to them, would never nave WOLL •As the Guardian delicately put it: 'Mr Airlie did not say that; like the management, the leadership had failed to understand the depth of hostility to a three year pay changes in working pracLICOS. The knock on effect of the victory on the Land Rover dispute is obvious.
But despite the victory at Fords there is no sign of either the employers or the government panic They rightly judge Hord's reflected the substantial incréase in profitability and productivity much of British manufacturing industry over the last 18 months.
Ford's recently reported annual results showing record profits of $4:6 billion contributed $1.07 billion or an increase of 93 per cent. In these circumstances, unlike Land Rover, the Ford centenem didn't want to pay it.
the dispute did DuEL show the increased vulnerability of Ford, almost manufacturers, to strike acHord's increasea profitability, especially in although the Dagenham and Halewood Europe, is based on new production methods, learned from Japan. These involve holding down stocks levels, cut overheads, and cutting out aupicale sources of supply. • Both these methods can be uscu uy Japan - where the possibility of industrial action is low. However the speed with which the strike hit reveals the problems faced by: manufacturers into Europe - where unions Lowering overhead casts by cutting back on stocks, streamlining through instituting a single led to an immediate knock on ettect throughout rord Europe of a strike in a single country or even plant far . cry the 1970's when Ford, as a matter of policy, had a duplicate production in another country for every component.
The high profits, the knock on effect, almost certainv motivated rord's parent company in Detroit to step 1n and insist on a rapid settlement. vulnerability shown to the Ford workers confidence for future struggles. And it certain that the vulnerability SOCI IS nol confined to Ford.
The successful stoppage . caused by the strike leaves Ford workers in a belter position to resist the next round of the company's oftensive through flexible working.
great play of its claim thạt Nissan plant in while the Tyne and wear produces cars at a labour cost of £315.
Polit Halewood £500 Both the willingness of AEU and TGWU officials to accept the original company OLCA alu Airle's statements: during the dispute that they were concerned to maintain a profitable Ford's shows that no nelp can de expecica non national union officials in blocking the company's of10% NOT A PENNY LESST MORE! fensive on flexibility job conditions.
The strike secured a victory on this in forcing Ford to negotiate local agreements with the unions on flexible working but the company clearly sees this as a problem to be overcome as rapidly as possible.
Ford is already gearing un tor the battle to come by reviewing its policy of producing components from FOR THE FULL CY AIMI THE NOTA STRING TR PICKET BASEE:
DO NOT CROSS 0. 82 -200 -600 -800 inousanos UK Market share