Unite Reaches Visteon Pension Deal

The Unite union says it has reached an agreement with a now-closed west Belfast factory over pension payments for former staff.

The Visteon factory closed five years ago, leading to a series of protests by former workers.

More than 200 jobs were lost at the car parts plant when it closed in 2009, with workers having only been given an hour's notice of the closure. A sit-in protest was staged at the facility over a pension agreement.

It has been claimed that, when Visteon took over the factory from Ford in 2000, the company promised to equal the compensation promised to them under their previous workers in the event of redundancy.

Unite now says it has reached an agreement with Ford, which includes staff from factories in Basildon, Essex, Enfield, north London and Swansea, as well as the Belfast site.

"Unite has concluded an agreement with Ford to make a settlement offer to eligible ex-Visteon employees who filed legal claims in connection with reductions in their pensions resulting from Visteon UK being put into administration in 2009," the union said.

"The settlement would avoid further expense for participants in the case and will settle the legal claims that these individuals have made against Ford.

"Unite and Ford have been involved in lengthy but constructive discussions to reach a position where a settlement has been offered. Details of the settlement are confidential and a private matter for those directly involved."

Sinn Féin MP for West Belfast Paul Maskey said: "I want to commend the former Visteon workers who, after five years, have achieved a great victory following their long battle for pension entitlements.

"I had the pleasure to meet many of them and lobby for them over the last number of years since the closure of the site in west Belfast.

"I have spoken on the phone to some of them today who are in London prior to this announcement. They have shown determination and commitment from day one to get their rights justified. They have not faltered and as a result have seen their campaign vindicated.

"This result will send out a clear message to global businesses that they cannot treat employees with contempt as the workers will not allow that to happen."

(IT/JP)