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Union pushes for redundancy deal 'Ford to meet Visteon for talks'
(about 3 hours later)
Union representatives of workers sacked by car components firm Visteon have met with former owners Ford to discuss redundancy terms. A trade union has revealed the car components firm Visteon is due to meet former owners Ford as efforts continue to get compensation for sacked workers.
Roger Madison of Unite said the union would also be meeting Visteon senior managers next week.
Workers have been occupying Visteon's Belfast plant over claims Ford reneged on guarantees about severance payments.Workers have been occupying Visteon's Belfast plant over claims Ford reneged on guarantees about severance payments.
On Tuesday, Visteon sacked 565 of its 610-strong UK workforce. In Belfast, 210 workers lost their jobs.On Tuesday, Visteon sacked 565 of its 610-strong UK workforce. In Belfast, 210 workers lost their jobs.
Derek Simpson of the Unite union urged the former owner to honour its 'moral obligations' to the workers. Union representatives of workers sacked by Visteon met with former owners Ford to discuss redundancy terms on Friday.
Further meetings are planned with Visteon's senior management to press the case for compensation. Mr Madison, who was at the meeting, said his union would do everything it could to obtain payments for the sacked workers.
"Ford are going off to have a meeting with Visteon," he said.
"Myself and my general secretary are meeting with senior managers of Visteon on Wednesday.
"This fight doesn't stop here. People in Belfast and the other plants have started a battle, we're really proud of the way these people have reacted.
"The people are prepared to fight for what they believe is right, I'm prepared to stand shoulder to shoulder and fight with them as well.
"If we can't get Visteon to pay up we hold Ford responsible.
"Ford have got plants in the UK. If they want to continue to work and produce things without any disruption to their productivity then they had better put their hand in their pocket and put their hand in their pocket deep."
Earlier on Friday, Derek Simpson of Unite had urged the former owner to honour its 'moral obligations' to the workers.
Mr Simpson, joint general secretary of Unite, met Ford's European chairman, John Fleming.Mr Simpson, joint general secretary of Unite, met Ford's European chairman, John Fleming.
"I am convinced that Ford have a moral obligation to these workers who have been cruelly laid off with only a few minutes' notice," Mr Simpson said.
"These workers must be treated with dignity and respect. This is yet another example of our weak labour laws letting skilled manufacturing workers down."
Mr Fleming undertook to raise the issues with Visteon's senior management in the US.Mr Fleming undertook to raise the issues with Visteon's senior management in the US.
Speaking earlier on Friday, Unite spokesmans in Belfast Jimmy Kelly said there was "no time limit" on the sit-in.
"To say that just basic packages are available is not the way to treat people," he said.
The Visteon operation in Belfast was established out of an existing Ford plant nine years ago.The Visteon operation in Belfast was established out of an existing Ford plant nine years ago.
A Ford spokesman has warned that the Visteon workers were no longer the responsibility of the company.A Ford spokesman has warned that the Visteon workers were no longer the responsibility of the company.
The administrators, KPMG, said there was no alternative but to close the factories which were losing money.The administrators, KPMG, said there was no alternative but to close the factories which were losing money.
Workers have also been protesting at the Ford sub-contractor's premises in Enfield and Basildon.Workers have also been protesting at the Ford sub-contractor's premises in Enfield and Basildon.