United_Digital1_8:Activist issue 7 12/06/2009 13:24 Page 19
united digital result
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Jubilant Unite members get deal they deserve
Rock solid result
Sacked in a trice, at least Visteon workers now have a good redundancy deal
thanks to Unite
Over 600 Visteon employees who were sacked Many workers are set to receive more than Brian added special credit must be given to
at a moment’s notice are set to abandon the 10 times what they would have received in the Unite reps that coordinated the action
picket line, following the agreement of a statutory pay, while former Ford employees to keep it going for two months and making
substantial deal with their former employer. will receive an extra bonus to recognise long this deal possible.
service.
The deal, brokered by Unite joint general “People often disperse when the going gets
secretaries Tony Woodley and Derek The offer will give workers up to 52 weeks tough but in this situation everyone was rock
Simpson was overwhelmingly accepted by redundancy pay, plus 12 weeks pay in lieu of solid.”
workers at the Enfield, Basildon and Belfast notice and payment for unused holidays and
plants. bonus schemes. A pay rise of 5.2 per cent from But senior Unite Visteon convenor John
last November will also be incorporated and Maguire believes former Visteon staff will
On March 31 employees were given less than pensions are to be placed in the pension leave the factories with mixed emotions.
one hour’s notice and minimum statutory protection fund.
redundancy when Visteon put its UK business “You can’t call it a total victory because
into administration. Unite regional officer Brian Harris said Unite we’ve lost good jobs but we have managed
regards the deal as a substantial award because to get something out of the company,” he
Just over 500 of the 610-strong workforce the sackings affected everyone from senior says.
were formerly on Ford “mirror” contracts management grade through to low-skilled
since the company was spun off from Ford in workers Unite joint general secretary Tony Woodley
2000. But when Visteon went into receivership said the victory would send a message to
the company claimed it did not need to “When our members were sacked they were employers everywhere that they cannot treat
honour the contracts despite the international looking at a minimum redundancy package so Unite members like cannon fodder.
company remaining solvent. this is a fantastic victory for direct action,” he
told United Digital. “It can never replace their jobs, or alter the
But a threat by Unite to withdraw Visteon fact that 610 people have lost their jobs and
members out of Ford’s new plant at Bridgend “Those on the lower end of service will still had their pensions hit, but it will provide
brought both parties to the table, with a receive a substantial payout which will assist these workers with compensation for the
renewed deal going far beyond Ford’s them during their search for work during this abysmal treatment they suffered and some
redundancy terms being accepted. tough economic climate.” security as they rebuild their working lives.”
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