Visteon closures underline UK manufacturing crisis

Plastics & Rubber Weekly

Visteon's decision to close three UK plants has spiralled into industrial unrest with representatives from the Unite union accusing the company of reneging on parts of staff contracts covering pay and redundancy.

Ford, which spun off Visteon in 2000, claimed it had no sway over the contract dispute. Visteon, it said, had copied the Ford contract but that didn't mean the auto manufacturer was liable. “The employees are not Ford's responsibility," said a company spokesman.

Workers at the Enfield site followed the example of their colleagues in Belfast and occupied their plant, taking to the factory roof. A court order has been issued in attempt to force the lock-in to end but sacked workers have ignored the ruling. Protests have also been staged outside the Basildon plant.

Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite, said: "The loss of another significant tier one supplier in manufacturing underscores the magnitude of the crisis engulfing our manufacturing sector.

"This is a personal tragedy for each and every one of these workers. Hundreds of families across in Belfast, Basildon and Enfield are now staring at a bleak future on the dole, and workers desperately need assurances that their skills and service will not go to waste or be lost to this country.

"This is yet a further reminder that 20,000 manufacturing jobs have disappeared since the economic slump took hold. Our manufacturing sector is in crisis. It needs serious strategic and financial help, and it needs it now."

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Staff report from Plastics & Rubber Weekly