Ford white collar workers are due to decide today whether to accept the company's latest pay and conditions offer.

Unions representing engineers and administrative staff, including many at Warley and Dunton, and workers at Basildon and Brentwood, suspended two planned one-day strikes while negotiations took place.

John Gardiner, Ford's manager for corporate affairs, said the negotiations were "productive" and that union representatives had agreed to recommend to members that they accept the company's offer. "We are hoping that this goes through," he said.

An MSF union spokesman said: "The negotiating committee will explain the offer to members at site meetings. They will then decide whether or not to accept it."

The result is expected at 5pm today.

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