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31/03/2009
'Disappointment' At West Belfast Job Losses
News that almost 600 jobs have been axed at car parts manufacturer Visteon after one of its subsidiaries in the UK was put into administration has gone down badly in Belfast.
The American-owned company employed roughly 600 people in its three branches in Basildon, Enfield and in a factory in west Belfast.
Sinn Féin West Belfast MP and party President, Gerry Adams (pictured) has expressed his "deep disappointment at the decision by Visteon to close its plant in Belfast".
"Sinn Féin has been liaising closely with the management of Visteon in Britain and in Belfast, and with the local workforce.
"Our goal throughout has been to retain much needed local employment and defend the rights of the Visteon workers.
"I have consistently argued that the Belfast plant of Visteon - formerly of Ford - should be treated as a special case.
"I understand that at the start of this year, Visteon UK embarked on a viability assessment of its three remaining plants, including Belfast," he said, noting that he believed Invest NI had met twice with Visteon about the Belfast plant during this period.
"I have submitted priority written questions in the Assembly to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment about the role of Invest NI and what measures it took to protect the 200 jobs in the Visteon plant," Mr Adams continued.
"We need to be convinced that Invest NI and Visteon exhausted all available options to keep this plant open," he said.
The senior politician was commenting after administrator KPMG said it was making an initial 565 staff redundant out of the total workforce.
The company's Chairman and Chief Executive Donald Stebbins said: "Despite extensive restructuring efforts, the UK plants have continued to incur substantial losses.
"Regrettably, having exhausted all options, the Visteon UK board of directors had no alternative but to file for administration."
Mr Stebbins added: "Addressing the unfavourable financial performance of our UK manufacturing operations is an important step in positioning the company for future success.
The division has struggled since Visteon was separated from car giant Ford in 2000, and it is reported it made losses totalling £669 million in the years after the split.
See: 600 Jobs At Risk As Car Parts Maker Goes Bust
(BMcC/JM)
The American-owned company employed roughly 600 people in its three branches in Basildon, Enfield and in a factory in west Belfast.
Sinn Féin West Belfast MP and party President, Gerry Adams (pictured) has expressed his "deep disappointment at the decision by Visteon to close its plant in Belfast".
"Sinn Féin has been liaising closely with the management of Visteon in Britain and in Belfast, and with the local workforce.
"Our goal throughout has been to retain much needed local employment and defend the rights of the Visteon workers.
"I have consistently argued that the Belfast plant of Visteon - formerly of Ford - should be treated as a special case.
"I understand that at the start of this year, Visteon UK embarked on a viability assessment of its three remaining plants, including Belfast," he said, noting that he believed Invest NI had met twice with Visteon about the Belfast plant during this period.
"I have submitted priority written questions in the Assembly to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment about the role of Invest NI and what measures it took to protect the 200 jobs in the Visteon plant," Mr Adams continued.
"We need to be convinced that Invest NI and Visteon exhausted all available options to keep this plant open," he said.
The senior politician was commenting after administrator KPMG said it was making an initial 565 staff redundant out of the total workforce.
The company's Chairman and Chief Executive Donald Stebbins said: "Despite extensive restructuring efforts, the UK plants have continued to incur substantial losses.
"Regrettably, having exhausted all options, the Visteon UK board of directors had no alternative but to file for administration."
Mr Stebbins added: "Addressing the unfavourable financial performance of our UK manufacturing operations is an important step in positioning the company for future success.
The division has struggled since Visteon was separated from car giant Ford in 2000, and it is reported it made losses totalling £669 million in the years after the split.
See: 600 Jobs At Risk As Car Parts Maker Goes Bust
(BMcC/JM)
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04 May 2006
Car parts industry faces job cuts
Over 400 jobs could be lost in the car parts industry in two factories in Belfast and Londonderry. There are fears that up to 250 jobs at the Visteon plant in Dunmurry, on the outskirts of south Belfast could be axed, while a further 170 jobs at the Arntz factory in Derry could also be cut.
Car parts industry faces job cuts
Over 400 jobs could be lost in the car parts industry in two factories in Belfast and Londonderry. There are fears that up to 250 jobs at the Visteon plant in Dunmurry, on the outskirts of south Belfast could be axed, while a further 170 jobs at the Arntz factory in Derry could also be cut.
09 April 2009
Belfast Councillors To Debate Visteon Workers' Plight
City Hall is throwing its weight behind west Belfast car workers protesting against compulsory redundancy terms. Belfast City Council will meet today (Thursday) to discuss the recent upsurge in job losses across the city. Car components firm Visteon closed three plants last Tuesday, making 600 workers redundant, including 210 in Finaghy.
Belfast Councillors To Debate Visteon Workers' Plight
City Hall is throwing its weight behind west Belfast car workers protesting against compulsory redundancy terms. Belfast City Council will meet today (Thursday) to discuss the recent upsurge in job losses across the city. Car components firm Visteon closed three plants last Tuesday, making 600 workers redundant, including 210 in Finaghy.
02 April 2014
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.
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.
24 April 2009
Visteon Eviction Bid Delayed
A hearing to resolve an eviction application against sit-in workers in Belfast will not now take place until next month. The legal moves to force the eviction of former workers from the car parts factory were hit by a further delay on Friday after lawyers for protestors at the Visteon plant said they wanted more time to advise them on the case.
Visteon Eviction Bid Delayed
A hearing to resolve an eviction application against sit-in workers in Belfast will not now take place until next month. The legal moves to force the eviction of former workers from the car parts factory were hit by a further delay on Friday after lawyers for protestors at the Visteon plant said they wanted more time to advise them on the case.
16 April 2009
Visteon Settlement Rejected
The union representing former workers at Visteon has rejected an offer of cash payments by the firm's US owners A Unite union spokesman called the offer "derisory" and that it added "insult to injury" even though it would have meant most of the protesting workers at the doomed Belfast factory being offered individual cash payments.
Visteon Settlement Rejected
The union representing former workers at Visteon has rejected an offer of cash payments by the firm's US owners A Unite union spokesman called the offer "derisory" and that it added "insult to injury" even though it would have meant most of the protesting workers at the doomed Belfast factory being offered individual cash payments.
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