PRODUCTION at the Ford Motor Company plant at Southampton ground to a halt early today when the entire night shift walked out over a pay dispute.

An estimated 600 workers took the action after calling a mass meeting in the company's trailer park at 2am today.

One worker said there was an overwhelming show of hands in favour of the walk-out. The action halted production of Ford's prestigious Transit vehicles.

Plant union convenor Colin Ryan confirmed the unofficial action had taken place and said it was thought the Wide Lane factory would continue to be affected in coming days.

He said the 2,000 staff at the Swaythling plant, as well as the firm's 19,000 hourly-paid UK workers, had been offered a three-year deal comprising a two per cent rise in the first year and inflation-linked increased in the second and third years. Some changes in working arrangements, including possible employment of temporary staff, were also said to be linked to the offer.

But in national negotiations unions are holding out for an above-inflation pay increase of around three per cent and a two-hour cut in the 39-hour working week.

"The workers are bitterly disappointed that their claims have just been dismissed by the firm in this way," said Mr Ryan. "They want a substantial wage increase.

"The action last night is not something unions have arranged or balloted on. This is an action by workers themselves and shows the depth of feeling over the issue."

He said workers coming into work this morning were expected to uphold the action.

"There are some parts of the plant working and some areas going slower than usual," he said.

It is feared the dispute could rumble on until union officials meet plant bosses again on November 9.

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