Cleaners at Ford Dagenham and Ford Dunton Technical Centre have accepted an inflation-busting pay rise of three per cent for 2020, Unite, Britain and Ireland’s largest union, announced today (Tuesday 4 August).

The 150 cleaners are employed by Hamton Environmental cleaning contractors and Unite hailed this inflation-busting increase, backdated to 1 January this year, as ‘a significant victory’.

There are also additional financial improvements to terms and conditions, including £25 a week extra for first aiders, long service awards and a new attendance bonus scheme.

Unite regional officer Matt Smith 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 per cent annual attendance rewarded with £500 extra pay.

“During the Covid-19 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 Covid-19, 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.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

For more information please contact Unite senior communications officer Shaun Noble on 020 3371 2060 or 07768 693940. Unite press office is on:  020 3371 2065.

Please note the numbers above are for journalists’ enquiries only.

Email: [email protected]

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Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest union with members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Len McCluskey.