Lineside Logistics warehouse staff at Dagenham plant in strike ballot

Unite said they were “disgusting” and there was a constant smell of sewage and instances of blocked drains causing waste to backflow.

The trade union also said workers and rejected a 2.5% pay rise after cleaning and facilities workers employed by the same company at the site were offered 5%.

In addition, Unite said there was anger over ‘union-busting’ after a Unite member who was actively campaigning for better welfare facilities was dismissed for what it claimed were “spurious reasons”.

Last year, there were concerns about the prospect of industrial action at the Ford plant and the impact on hauliers delivering there after Lineside Logistics workers balloted for strikes in another row over pay.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Lineside Logistics workers are being treated as second class employees – expected to take smaller pay increases, put up with disgusting toilet facilities and have their colleagues targeted because they are in a union.”

The ballot for strike action closes on 11 December. Unite said strikes would disrupt the supply of engine parts to Ford’s Dagenham production line causing severe operational problems.