Ford Motor Company strike, 1978

In July 1978, the Labour Government introduced a new guideline for pay rises of 5%. The TUC voted on 26 July to reject the limit and insist on a return to free collective bargaining. Although the government did not make the 5% limit a legal requirement, it decided to impose sanctions on government contractors who broke the limit. As a major contractor, Ford made an offer within the guidelines and 15,000 Ford workers (mainly Transport and General Workers' Union members) began an official strike on September 22, 1978. The numbers on strike grew to 57,000 after the TGWU made the strike official. Ford eventually accepted government sanctions and revised their offer to 17%, which the workers accepted on November 22. This leaflet issued by the Ford Shop Stewards Strike Committee advertises a Day of Action and march from Tower Hill to Westminster on October 11.

Title Ford Motor Company strike, 1978
Maker Trades Union Congress
Production Date 1978
Format Leaflet
Copyright Unite - the Union
Holding Institution TUC Library Collections, London Metropolitan University
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