200 Visteon car plant workers in Belfast are occupying their factory after the Company went into administration today. It was announced that 565 staff would go at Visteon car components plants across the UK. Most of the jobs have been lost with immediate effect.
Davy MacMurray, Unite Regional Organiser, said the way the job cuts were announced was "brutal". He said, "The administrator came in, held a meeting and told the workforce their employment was terminated. These people were going to be put out on the street tonight."
Unite Convenor John Maguire said the workers at the plant had "been treated disgracefully".
"We have been left with no choice but to occupy the factory to save our jobs and to defend jobs for the people of Belfast," he said.
"Ford and Visteon have manipulated this situation together," he said.
"We have been treated disgracefully. We are occupying the factory to save our jobs and to defend jobs for the people of Belfast. There was no consultation whatsoever – they simply announced the closure.
"They have put the pension scheme into administration. To make it clear – we are in for the long haul and are committed to get proper redundancy packages and pensions.
"We are determined to continue our occupation and we appeal on workers throughout Ireland, Britain and internationally to support our fight to defend jobs."
Visteon was spun-off by Ford in 2000 as a device to slash costs at the expense of the workforce. Two and then three-tier contracts then followed as well as outsourcing of 'indirect' jobs. However, for Visteon bosses this wasn't enough. They've spent the last 3 1/2 years demanding that Visteon workers break their Ford 'mirrored' contracts.
The workers want to put pressure on Ford to intervene to stop the sackings. They are appealing to the unions in Ford to support them by not using parts shipped in to replace those from Belfast.
One occupying worker said "Ford have a commitment and agreement with the unions that there would never be compulsory redundancies. At the very least we should get the same redundancy package as Ford workers."
By early evening the 200-strong workforce was holding protests both inside and outside the plant. Supporters were bringing supplies and sleeping bags. They are planning protests Wednesday at Ford dealerships across the city.
If the closure is not stopped, the workers in the ex-Ford factories in Belfast, Enfield and Basildon will be left to claim statutory redundancy payments. Even workers with over 30 years service will only get about £9,000 and most workers a lot less. Also, their pensions plus those of ex-Visteon workers in Swansea and retirees will go into the Pension Protection Fund, which will result in reduced payments.
The occupation comes on the day Unite announced a massive March for Jobs to be held in Birmingham on Saturday, May 16th.
Announcing the March, Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite said: “Workers did not cause this recession but they are paying for it hand over fist with their jobs.
“Twenty thousand jobs have disappeared from manufacturing since this recession took hold, and thousands more in finance and other core sectors. Unemployment blights lives and leaves communities in despair so we will not stand by while our jobs and the very skills that will help pull us out of this downturn are swept away by the recession tide.
“People desperately need some assurance that they will remain in work and can keep a roof over their families' heads, and companies cannot keep the lights on in factories with promises alone. No more delay - we need action now or we will see our skills base and vital manufacturing sector shattered for a generation.”
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