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Visteon talks break down - union Visteon talks break down - union
(about 3 hours later)
Talks taking place in London to resolve the dispute at three Visteon sites broke down on Wednesday night, the Unite union has said.Talks taking place in London to resolve the dispute at three Visteon sites broke down on Wednesday night, the Unite union has said.
Workers in Belfast, Basildon and Enfield have been protesting after being laid off by the firm, which has gone into administration in the UK.Workers in Belfast, Basildon and Enfield have been protesting after being laid off by the firm, which has gone into administration in the UK.
"The talks last night broke down with a very poor offer from Visteon," Roger Madison from Unite said."The talks last night broke down with a very poor offer from Visteon," Roger Madison from Unite said.
"It falls well short of what we were expecting and we were demanding.""It falls well short of what we were expecting and we were demanding."
Mr Madison said he was meeting with Ford representatives on Thursday.Mr Madison said he was meeting with Ford representatives on Thursday.
He said sit-ins staged by workers had forced the company to the negotiating table as it wanted to sell what was in the factories.He said sit-ins staged by workers had forced the company to the negotiating table as it wanted to sell what was in the factories.
"If it hadn't been for the sit-ins we wouldn't even have had this meeting with Visteon. It may well be that our fight has to move on to Ford, but the sit-in is important at the moment," Mr Madison said."If it hadn't been for the sit-ins we wouldn't even have had this meeting with Visteon. It may well be that our fight has to move on to Ford, but the sit-in is important at the moment," Mr Madison said.
On Wednesday, Belfast union representatives had complained that they were not being brought in for the discussions. However a spokesman for Ford reiterated that the company is not responsible for the former Visteon workers.
Mr Madison said they were eventually able to get the local representatives in and the offer from Visteon was made directly to them. He said: "Since 2000, Visteon has been an independent company supplying parts to Ford. Ford has no contractual or other responsibility towards the Visteon UK workforce.
"All the reps to a man turned round and said this offer wasn't good enough and we want people treated with dignity and respect," he said. "The decision made regarding the plants in Belfast, Basildon and Enfield was made by Visteon's management and not by Ford Motor Company.
"Ford has acted responsibly and met, or exceeded, its commitments under the Visteon agreement of 2000."
Home protests
Meanwhile, some workers have staged protests outside the homes of Visteon managers in Lisburn and Downpatrick.
Pickets were held on Monday and again on Wednesday.
Stressing the protests were peaceful, one worker who took part in one of them, denied the action had become too personal.
"It's personal for me that after 30 years I've walked out of the plant with no pension," he said.
"All I want's a job back in Belfast."
Nearly 600 jobs were lost at the three plants - 210 in Belfast - with staff being given less than an hour's notice.Nearly 600 jobs were lost at the three plants - 210 in Belfast - with staff being given less than an hour's notice.
The workers said they were given guarantees on pay and conditions when the company was split off from Ford nine years ago and will only leave when they are offered an adequate deal.The workers said they were given guarantees on pay and conditions when the company was split off from Ford nine years ago and will only leave when they are offered an adequate deal.
Protesters in Northern Ireland picketed Ford showrooms over the Easter weekend as well as staging a sit-in at the Visteon plant in Finaghy.Protesters in Northern Ireland picketed Ford showrooms over the Easter weekend as well as staging a sit-in at the Visteon plant in Finaghy.