Visteon workers win justice - and show fighting back works
1st May 2009
The dramatic fight for justice for 610 Visteon workers is on the
brink of settlement with the tabling of a new and vastly improved
offer by the company to the workers. The workers, members of Unite
the union, were sacked last month with only minute's notice, in the
process denied their rightful redundancy pay and their pensions
hit.
Since then the workers, supported fully by Unite, have led a
high profile fight-back for just compensation, including the right
to be considered for jobs at Ford, the former employer of the vast
majority of the workforce.
Unite has been campaigning to ensure that neither Visteon nor
Ford, given its historic, continuous association with the
workforce, could walk away from the workers without paying them
what is rightfully and morally theirs.
Now a renewed deal, which goes beyond even the Ford redundancy
terms, has been accepted unanimously by the union's convenors and
shop stewards.
Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite, said: "This is a
tremendous victory for these workers, and a demonstration to
workers everywhere that when you fight for justice you can
win. The deal now on the table is a massive improvement from
where we started, which was 610 men and women thrown on the dole
with only the expectation of basic state redundancy pay. By going
beyond even what Ford workers themselves can expect in redundancy
pay, Visteon has acknowledged the loyalty and commitment this
workforce has shown towards both the company and to Ford before
that.
"It can never replace their jobs, or alter the fact that 610
people have lost their jobs and their pensions have been hit, but
it will provide these workers with compensation for the abysmal
treatment they suffered and some security as they rebuild their
working lives. This should send a message to employers
everywhere - you will not get away with treating our members like
cannon fodder."
Derek Simpson, joint general secretary of Unite, said: “This is
a proud moment for these workers and their union. It shows
that even in the bleakest of circumstances, if you stand up to
defend what is right you will very often win.
"The support for these workers and their cause has been
astonishing - the British people recognise when a wrong has been
committed and they wanted it put right.
"Ultimately, Visteon and Ford accepted that they could not wash
their hands of these workers and have gone a long way towards doing
the decent thing by the workers and their families.
"We are confident that this dispute will now be settled in an
orderly fashion and the workers will receive their compensation as
quickly as possible."
The proposed settlement deal will see a considerable lift in the
redundancy package offered to workers with long service and who
previously worked for Ford. Some 510 out of the 610-strong
workforce are former Ford employees. For those workers with shorter
service, they can expect to receive ten times what they would have
received in statutory redundancy pay. Ford has also agreed to
give preferential treatment to former Visteon workers who may apply
for work at Ford's UK plants in the future.
The new offer will be put to the workers in the coming days with
Unite's joint negotiating committee recommending to members that
they accept the deal. Following any agreement of the deal by the
workforce, the pickets will withdraw from the plants.
ENDS
For further information call Pauline Doyle on 07976 832 861
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