Industrial action at motor giant Ford could be halted by the end of the week, unions today announced.

White collar staff will be called on to accept the latest pay and pensions offer by the company.

Union members are expected to make a decision by Wednesday which could lead the suspension of all industrial action, including a three-day strike planned for March and work-to-rule.

The move would bring to an end several months of wrangling between the company and 3,000 professional staff.

Up to 1,500 workers in Basildon and Brentwood were due to strike tomorrow.

However, the one-day walkout was cancelled after Ford agreed to suspend merging two pension funds pending an independent inquiry.

Union bosses will meet tomorrow and are expected to urge members to accept an 11 per cent three-year pay deal - four per cent less than demanded.

Senior negotiator Colin Spence: "Delegates will meet tomorrow. And if everything goes to plan there is a possibility that negotiators will recommend to members to suspend all industrial action.

"We will put it to mass meetings and members will report back by Thursday by the latest."

Workers had called the strike in protest at the company's decision to merge the pension funds of salaried and hourly-paid workers. Despite not getting the same 15 per cent three-year pay deal offered to other Ford unions, staff had maintained it was the pension deal they were fighting for.

After weeks of negotiation the company agreed on Friday to review its position.

Mr Spence said: "The company has agreed to allow the trustees to seek independent and legal advice to determine whether it is in their best interests to merge the funds.

"We have not got the equity we wanted in terms of the pay deal."

The investigation into the merger is expected to take several months.

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