ONE hundred retired Ford workers came from across the country to stage an angry protest at the company’s Warley headquarters over planned pension cuts.

The pensioners are furious over Ford’s proposal to change the way pension inflation is calculated – which they claim would cost them thousands of pounds.

The protest, at the Ford offices on Eagle Way, took place as union representatives – who are threatening strike action – and the car giant’s director of HR met to discuss the issue.

A resolution was not found and a further meeting is due to take place in the first week of April.

Dagenham stamping plant convenor, Mark Stephens, who was at the meeting, said: “Ford said they did have an offer for us but it would only affect current workers not pensioners. We told them we are only interested in an offer that involves current and former workers.

“We will meet again in April and if we can not come to an agreement we will ballot 11,000 workers across the country.”

Union members are against plans by Ford to tie pension increases to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) instead of the Retail Price Index (RPI).

Jim Brinklow, 68, a pensioner at the protest said: “I feel let down by Ford. You put years of hard work into the company and then get kicked in the guts like this. It’s not right.”

Alf Richards, 63, a former production line worker and shop steward, added: “When the company was struggling for many years the work force did everything it could to help it recover. Now it is in profit and they treat us in this manner.”

Ford does not comment on ongoing negotiations.