The meeting - postponed from last week - follows a series of incidents at the Essex plant.

Unions are planning to call for an independent inquiry by the Commission for Racial Equality into the allegations of racism.

Bill Morris, general secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union, plans to present Ford with an action plan to combat the alleged racism.

The meeting is the latest development in a continuing row over allegations of racism and bullying at the factory.

Workers at the factory have reported incidents of racism, while union officials say that Ford is not doing enough to tackle the problem.

Earlier this month workers voted in favour of holding a ballot on taking industrial action.

There have been two unofficial stoppages at the site - including a mass walkout this month which halted production of the top-selling Fiesta.