UNION Unite says Ford must involve it in the bidding process for Jaguar and Land Rover – and says the Government must be prepared to step in to protect jobs.

Unite’s joint general secretary Tony Woodley said he wanted the auto giant to engage with the union and not just “accept the highest bid and go”.

Ford has put the two iconic brands up for sale, with bidders believed to include several private equity firms, as well as Indian industrial giant Tata.

The company says there has been strong interest in the brands and that a final decision on any sale will be made late this year or early 2008.

Ford is now understood to be shortlisting bidders.

Unite says Jaguar and Land Rover employ 19,000 people directly in the UK, including more than 2,000 at Halewood, with at least twice that number employed in the supply chain.

Cheshire-based Mr Woodley said: “There are no ifs, buts, ands or maybes here. We want full involvement.

“We want clear decisions securing the jobs of all our members now and in the future, along with their pay and pensions, plus the futures of all Ford plants in the UK.

“To ministers, the message is clear. If manufacturing in this country matters, and it does, they have got a responsibility not to walk away and adopt a ‘market rules OK’ attitude.”

Mr Woodley said he wanted Ford to:

Involve Unite in any decision on the future of Jaguar Land Rover production sites and other Ford supply chain sites, including any sale decision;.

Make it a condition of any sale that vehicle production, design and development continues at the existing Jaguar Land Rover production and development sites;

Make it a condition of any sale that a minimum 10-year service contract with Ford and other current suppliers be agreed;

Keep a “sizeable” financial stake in any new company. established to take over Jaguar Land Rover to ensure a long-term contractual relationship;

Write into the conditions that existing arrangements for trade union recognition and bargaining continue and that the terms and conditions of employment, including current pension arrangements, are protected.

A Ford spokesman said: We are committed to maintaining a clear and ongoing dialogue with our union colleagues.

“We are the largest employer in the UK motor industry and we have demonstrated on a number of occasions that we take communication with our employees very seriously.

“That’s why any decision we take will be in the best interests of Jaguar, Land Rover and Ford.

alistairhoughton