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Visteon workers vote to back deal | Visteon workers vote to back deal |
(about 8 hours later) | |
Visteon car workers in west Belfast have voted to accept a deal to end a bitter dispute over the collapse of the factory. | Visteon car workers in west Belfast have voted to accept a deal to end a bitter dispute over the collapse of the factory. |
Workers backed the deal on Sunday by 147 to 34 votes. | |
It includes enhanced redundancy payments, as well as compensation in lieu of notice and holiday pay. | It includes enhanced redundancy payments, as well as compensation in lieu of notice and holiday pay. |
But workers will not leave the plant immediately - they will wait until the agreement is ratified at national level and until redundancy payments begin. | But workers will not leave the plant immediately - they will wait until the agreement is ratified at national level and until redundancy payments begin. |
Unfortunately we weren't able to keep these people in their jobs, but in terms of a financial package, we think we've done the best we possibly can Roger MadisonUnite | Unfortunately we weren't able to keep these people in their jobs, but in terms of a financial package, we think we've done the best we possibly can Roger MadisonUnite |
About 200 former employees in Belfast have been occupying the site since they were made redundant 34 days ago. | About 200 former employees in Belfast have been occupying the site since they were made redundant 34 days ago. |
Almost 600 jobs were lost at Visteon's three plants in Belfast, Basildon and Enfield, with staff being given less than an hour's notice. | Almost 600 jobs were lost at Visteon's three plants in Belfast, Basildon and Enfield, with staff being given less than an hour's notice. |
The Unite union had already said it had agreed improved redundancy terms with the company. | The Unite union had already said it had agreed improved redundancy terms with the company. |
Unite spokesman Roger Madison said the deal was "10 times what people were being offered originally". | Unite spokesman Roger Madison said the deal was "10 times what people were being offered originally". |
"They've only been offered this because of the actions taken, especially by the people in west Belfast - to lock themselves in a plant for nearly a month is refreshing - it's old-fashioned trade unionism." | "They've only been offered this because of the actions taken, especially by the people in west Belfast - to lock themselves in a plant for nearly a month is refreshing - it's old-fashioned trade unionism." |
The company was formerly owned by Ford, and Mr Madison said it was "the sort of closure package we would see if a Ford plant was closing". | The company was formerly owned by Ford, and Mr Madison said it was "the sort of closure package we would see if a Ford plant was closing". |
"Unfortunately we weren't able to keep these people in their jobs, but in terms of a financial package, we think we've done the best we possibly can," he said. | "Unfortunately we weren't able to keep these people in their jobs, but in terms of a financial package, we think we've done the best we possibly can," he said. |