Visteon car workers in UK (was Belfast) occupy against cuts
- Thread starter mutley
- Start date
I wonder what solidarity they will get from the range of protesters who were in London today, this is real life, not 'abstract', A/C ,etc...
oh and can a Mod change the title to include Basildon where apparently workers are now on the roof!
Now in Enfield...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7976783.stm
oh and can a Mod change the title to include Basildon where apparently workers are now on the roof!
Now in Enfield...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7976783.stm
Donna Ferentes
jubliado
Give it a bloody rest man.
Donna Ferentes
jubliado
Can you really not raise anything without having a sulky pop at people whose views and methods aren't the same as yours?
http://www.socialistunity.com/
Support Visteon workers!
200 Visteon car plant workers in Belfast are blockading their factory after the company went into administration today. If they get away with it, over 600 workers in ex-Ford factories in Belfast, Enfield and Basildon will be sacked and left to claim statutory redundancy form the state.
Stop press: Workers in Basildon and Enfield have taken action to occupy their plants
Even workers with over 30 years service will only get about nine grand and most workers a lot less.
Also, their pensions plus those of ex-Visteon workers in Swansea and retirees will go into the Pension Protection Fund, which will result in reduced payments.
This is the brutal side of capitalism - no bailouts or bonuses like the bankrupt fat cats get - but bare minimum pay outs and the dole. Visteon UK executives have jumped ship and are now employed by their own spin-off ‘Visteon Engineering Services’. A life raft for rats escaping the sinking ship!
Support Visteon workers!
200 Visteon car plant workers in Belfast are blockading their factory after the company went into administration today. If they get away with it, over 600 workers in ex-Ford factories in Belfast, Enfield and Basildon will be sacked and left to claim statutory redundancy form the state.
Stop press: Workers in Basildon and Enfield have taken action to occupy their plants
Even workers with over 30 years service will only get about nine grand and most workers a lot less.
Also, their pensions plus those of ex-Visteon workers in Swansea and retirees will go into the Pension Protection Fund, which will result in reduced payments.
This is the brutal side of capitalism - no bailouts or bonuses like the bankrupt fat cats get - but bare minimum pay outs and the dole. Visteon UK executives have jumped ship and are now employed by their own spin-off ‘Visteon Engineering Services’. A life raft for rats escaping the sinking ship!
lostexpectation
New Member
the waterford glass workers occupation aim was to keep the factory working ,but they ended the other day when they got slightly better packages
are we suppose to go do solidarity for expensive nicnacs and old cars, when they'll just take a better redundancy package in a few days
are we suppose to go do solidarity for expensive nicnacs and old cars, when they'll just take a better redundancy package in a few days
dennisr
the acceptable face
SP NI Report:
http://spni.032.org.uk/Website/Industrial News/Unite/Visteon/1 April 09.html
CWI Report:
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2009/04/0102.html
"All the Visteon plants that have been put into administration - Basildon, Belfast and Enfield – and are being occupied by car plant workers (Wednesday 1 April 2009). ... Messages of support / offers of help to John Maguire, Belfast Unite Convenor – 07816590380"
http://spni.032.org.uk/Website/Industrial News/Unite/Visteon/1 April 09.html
CWI Report:
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2009/04/0102.html
"All the Visteon plants that have been put into administration - Basildon, Belfast and Enfield – and are being occupied by car plant workers (Wednesday 1 April 2009). ... Messages of support / offers of help to John Maguire, Belfast Unite Convenor – 07816590380"
dennisr
the acceptable face
Can you do anything positive for non wadicals full stop.
why don't you fuck off you sad cunt?
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Please text urgent messages of support to:
Des Heemskerk (Basildon) 07814432215
John Macquire (Belfast) 07816 590 380
Kevin Nolan (Enfield) 0780 889 5724
And e-mail messages to: supportvisteonoccupation*****@***hotmail.com
Des Heemskerk (Basildon) 07814432215
John Macquire (Belfast) 07816 590 380
Kevin Nolan (Enfield) 0780 889 5724
And e-mail messages to: supportvisteonoccupation*****@***hotmail.com
N_igma
Epistemic nuisance
Do you have their permission to post their numbers up on the net?
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Given that they want members of the public to text them messages of support and these numbers are included on their own circulating appeals for support...
N_igma
Epistemic nuisance
No probs, text on it's way to Belfast fella.
Fedayn
Well-Known Member
dennisr
the acceptable face
why dont you nuuuuurrr
look dicksplash - this thread is about real people fighting real battles - you really are an egotistical turd, you one-trick idiot
brassic - lets meet up so you can tell me all about the working class, cunt (i envisage a dishevelled, pigeon-chested, spotty wanker who smells of fish)
dennisr
the acceptable face
A post from elsewhere that I thought was woryh repr=eating:
"It is clear the aim is to liquidate the entire Visteon UK operation and ship the jobs to lower wage countries. It is excellent that the workers have joined in solidarity their brothers in Belfast. This is similar to the recent occupations in Slovakian car plants against the job losses at factories in Germany. The race to the bottom is clearly understood by workers everywhere. It is simply amazing that under UK and EU law a worker can have thousands of pounds stolen by his.her boss in unpaid redundancy and pension, deferred wages in fact and that this is perfectly legal, nay protected by the bosses government. The only collateral the workers have is the actual plant and it's capital goods, this is clearly understood by workers in London and Belfast who have occupied to prevent the removal of this stuff."
"It is clear the aim is to liquidate the entire Visteon UK operation and ship the jobs to lower wage countries. It is excellent that the workers have joined in solidarity their brothers in Belfast. This is similar to the recent occupations in Slovakian car plants against the job losses at factories in Germany. The race to the bottom is clearly understood by workers everywhere. It is simply amazing that under UK and EU law a worker can have thousands of pounds stolen by his.her boss in unpaid redundancy and pension, deferred wages in fact and that this is perfectly legal, nay protected by the bosses government. The only collateral the workers have is the actual plant and it's capital goods, this is clearly understood by workers in London and Belfast who have occupied to prevent the removal of this stuff."
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Visteon drew up a plan around the middle of last year - it had 30 steps to take to definitively place the burden of the crisis on those least able to afford it - the workers. The sell off of their Swansea plant last year was succesful step #24. (That plant was later sold down the river by another set of false claims from Visteon and the new owners about secure contracts and other bullshit).
Udo Erasmus
Well-Known Member
Following the wave of student occupations an even better wave is coming of workplace occupations it seems.
In Dundee, 12 workers at the Prisme Factory (some of whom had worked there for over a decade) went into work and were told that their jobs were ending at an hours notice and they would get no redundancy pay. They decided to occupy their workplace to demand justice, the occupation will shortly be entering its sixth week & there is talk of them taking over the factory to run it as a workers co-op a la Tower Colliery.
Contrary to Treelover's counterposing of international solidarity with Gaza to domestic workers struggles, the energy of the movement against the destruction of Gaza - and the alliances built - has fed into the factory occupation with anti-war students visiting the occupation, the President of Dundee University Islamic Society who was part of the delegation helped build links between the occupation and a local mosque who have been making food for the workers occupation. This gives an anti-racist alternative to the British jobs for British workers crap and is important in building workers unity.
Now following Waterford, we have Visteon in Belfast and Enfield.
This is heartening, I was involved in a campaign around the closure of Hoover in Merthyr. Friends of mine collected hundreds of signatures from local people, with stalls in the town centre being flooded with people wanting to sign and take away petition & with the local football team's supporters club asking for petitions to take away, a group set up on the social networking site Facebook to Save Hoover's Factory in Merthyr attracted over 2,000 people in 48 hours. Unfortunately, despite huge public sympathy, the union bureaucrats working with the local Labour Assembly Member were opposed to any campaign or militant action that would have put real pressure on the Assembly & local politicians & had decided that any high profile campaign would jepoardise negotiations and instead led a tokenistic campaign that focused blame on a foreign company and led to demoralisation with the factory closing, workers thrown onto the dole and a very poor deal. Almost certainly the spinelessness of the union convenors who allowed the main employer in the town to shut down without a fight & collective struggle will sew the seeds for reactionary and right wing ideas to gain a foothold in the locale.
In Dundee, 12 workers at the Prisme Factory (some of whom had worked there for over a decade) went into work and were told that their jobs were ending at an hours notice and they would get no redundancy pay. They decided to occupy their workplace to demand justice, the occupation will shortly be entering its sixth week & there is talk of them taking over the factory to run it as a workers co-op a la Tower Colliery.
Contrary to Treelover's counterposing of international solidarity with Gaza to domestic workers struggles, the energy of the movement against the destruction of Gaza - and the alliances built - has fed into the factory occupation with anti-war students visiting the occupation, the President of Dundee University Islamic Society who was part of the delegation helped build links between the occupation and a local mosque who have been making food for the workers occupation. This gives an anti-racist alternative to the British jobs for British workers crap and is important in building workers unity.
Now following Waterford, we have Visteon in Belfast and Enfield.
This is heartening, I was involved in a campaign around the closure of Hoover in Merthyr. Friends of mine collected hundreds of signatures from local people, with stalls in the town centre being flooded with people wanting to sign and take away petition & with the local football team's supporters club asking for petitions to take away, a group set up on the social networking site Facebook to Save Hoover's Factory in Merthyr attracted over 2,000 people in 48 hours. Unfortunately, despite huge public sympathy, the union bureaucrats working with the local Labour Assembly Member were opposed to any campaign or militant action that would have put real pressure on the Assembly & local politicians & had decided that any high profile campaign would jepoardise negotiations and instead led a tokenistic campaign that focused blame on a foreign company and led to demoralisation with the factory closing, workers thrown onto the dole and a very poor deal. Almost certainly the spinelessness of the union convenors who allowed the main employer in the town to shut down without a fight & collective struggle will sew the seeds for reactionary and right wing ideas to gain a foothold in the locale.
Unite have called a rally at the factory for tomorrow at 11am. there are posts on indymedia calling for
" .. gas fired tea urn and rings for cooking to set up kitchen outside the factory plus banner materials needed and as well as tents and sleeping bags and lots of food for the occupiers .. "
i was there today and the atmosphere is good, if a bit tense for the occupiers .. there are maybe 100 inside and where another 30 workers outside .. i urge everyone to get there in the next few days .. this is of major importance .. these people have been totally screwed
" .. gas fired tea urn and rings for cooking to set up kitchen outside the factory plus banner materials needed and as well as tents and sleeping bags and lots of food for the occupiers .. "
i was there today and the atmosphere is good, if a bit tense for the occupiers .. there are maybe 100 inside and where another 30 workers outside .. i urge everyone to get there in the next few days .. this is of major importance .. these people have been totally screwed
Support Visteon Factory Occupation in London, Enfield
Short Report, 2nd of April 2009
After car parts manufacturer Visteon announced job cuts workers occupied
plants in Belfast, basildon and Enfiled. In Enfield about 70 workers - men
and women from all kinds of backgrounds - are still inside the plant and
on the roof. Last Tuesday the management called for a general assembly and
told people that they would have to leave their workplace immediately.
They were told to fetch their personal belongings the next day at 10 am.
When people turned up the factory was already closed. Workers entered
through an unlocked side entrance and occupied the plant.
The security guards won't let people go inside, they also blocked the fire
exists with padlocks - which is clearly illegal. Last night, Thursday 1st
of April, two bailiffs entered the plant. They issued an eviction order,
supported by five cops. The eviction order was flawed, e.g. it was not
signed and it had the wrong address on it. Workers expect a proper
eviction order for tomorrow, Friday, 3rd of April. In case of eviction
workers plan to picket the plant. they also plan to go to Ford Dagenham
for a solidarity picket.
The plant manufactured parts for various car companies, for example Land
Rover, Jaguar, Madzda, Renault, Ford. In 1991 there were still 1,100
people employed, this number came down to 250. Workers guess that Ford
Southampton, the main 'client', piled up stock lasting several weeks -
Ford Southampton announced redundancies and will eventually shift
production of the Transit to Turkey. Links of solidarity between Enfield
and Southampton is the most pressing.
People have the most basic stuff inside, sleeping backs, some food etc.,
contributions are welcome, ex-Visteon workers and neighbours from Enfield
drop by with food. Unfortunately the G20 hype has pushed the occupation
into the public back-ground. The occupations are the first 'offensive'
collective reactions to the crisis, we should support them - particularly
given the pending threat of eviction. So spread the word and come up to
Enfield:
Meeting point: Friday, 3rd of April and Saturday, 4th of April at 10 am at
Ponders End Railway Station
(the plant is 5 min walk, cross the foot-bridge, walk down main road
towards Central London, the next street to the left is Morson Road, the
factory situated at the end)
Bring along: friends, banners, food, music...
Mobile Phone inside the plant: 07799896466
Short Report, 2nd of April 2009
After car parts manufacturer Visteon announced job cuts workers occupied
plants in Belfast, basildon and Enfiled. In Enfield about 70 workers - men
and women from all kinds of backgrounds - are still inside the plant and
on the roof. Last Tuesday the management called for a general assembly and
told people that they would have to leave their workplace immediately.
They were told to fetch their personal belongings the next day at 10 am.
When people turned up the factory was already closed. Workers entered
through an unlocked side entrance and occupied the plant.
The security guards won't let people go inside, they also blocked the fire
exists with padlocks - which is clearly illegal. Last night, Thursday 1st
of April, two bailiffs entered the plant. They issued an eviction order,
supported by five cops. The eviction order was flawed, e.g. it was not
signed and it had the wrong address on it. Workers expect a proper
eviction order for tomorrow, Friday, 3rd of April. In case of eviction
workers plan to picket the plant. they also plan to go to Ford Dagenham
for a solidarity picket.
The plant manufactured parts for various car companies, for example Land
Rover, Jaguar, Madzda, Renault, Ford. In 1991 there were still 1,100
people employed, this number came down to 250. Workers guess that Ford
Southampton, the main 'client', piled up stock lasting several weeks -
Ford Southampton announced redundancies and will eventually shift
production of the Transit to Turkey. Links of solidarity between Enfield
and Southampton is the most pressing.
People have the most basic stuff inside, sleeping backs, some food etc.,
contributions are welcome, ex-Visteon workers and neighbours from Enfield
drop by with food. Unfortunately the G20 hype has pushed the occupation
into the public back-ground. The occupations are the first 'offensive'
collective reactions to the crisis, we should support them - particularly
given the pending threat of eviction. So spread the word and come up to
Enfield:
Meeting point: Friday, 3rd of April and Saturday, 4th of April at 10 am at
Ponders End Railway Station
(the plant is 5 min walk, cross the foot-bridge, walk down main road
towards Central London, the next street to the left is Morson Road, the
factory situated at the end)
Bring along: friends, banners, food, music...
Mobile Phone inside the plant: 07799896466
Urbanblues
Was that it, life?
Why Des Heemskirk? Des doesn't, or didn't, work for Visteon as far as I know.
I've sent messages to both Belfast and Enfield; and, I'm visiting Enfield in the morning.
Please, get over to the Visteon plant which is in Marson Road off Meridan Way (A1055) in Enfield for 11 am tomorrow morning.
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