Urbanblues
Was that it, life?
Oh, I heard early this afternoon that around 50 bailiffs have arrived at the plant.
Visteon car workers in UK (was Belfast) occupy against cuts
- Thread starter mutley
- Start date
was chinese whispers .. company have added another security firm who are a bit more para called Shelbond .. was them
yes they have
Report of Saturdays rally.
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=17549
sounds good, did anyone here get there?
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=17549
sounds good, did anyone here get there?
Urbanblues
Was that it, life?
Visteon Basildon is holding a demonstration tomorrow, Sunday 5th April, at 11am. The address is as follows:
Visteon
Endeavour Drive
Basildon
Essex
SS14 3WF
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl
Visteon
Endeavour Drive
Basildon
Essex
SS14 3WF
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl
yes it was pretty good .. lots of union banners (though to many paper sellers imho ) .. but rallies will not be enough .. most people came and went fairly quickly .. it will need more than that imho ..
3 events in the next few days
Monday 9.30am at the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand. High Court injunction against convenor and possession order hearing at 10.30am.
(also will need people at Enfield as a possibility of people turning up to take away equipment in factory. People will be needed to prevent this, but no idea of time at the moment.)
tuesday Ford convenors meeting at Unite offices Holborn .. meet from 9
wednesday - Family rally at the Plant midday .. bring kids banners and placards etc .. when people are sacked it is whole families who suffer
people are needed all day everyday .. if the possession order is granted more will be needed! midday and 6 are the times people tend to rally
Monday 9.30am at the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand. High Court injunction against convenor and possession order hearing at 10.30am.
(also will need people at Enfield as a possibility of people turning up to take away equipment in factory. People will be needed to prevent this, but no idea of time at the moment.)
tuesday Ford convenors meeting at Unite offices Holborn .. meet from 9
wednesday - Family rally at the Plant midday .. bring kids banners and placards etc .. when people are sacked it is whole families who suffer
people are needed all day everyday .. if the possession order is granted more will be needed! midday and 6 are the times people tend to rally
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Requests for the following, everyone has one of these spare, so off your arse:
-sleeping bags
-kitchenware
-marquee/gazebo (or equipment for one)
-furniture
-sleeping bags
-kitchenware
-marquee/gazebo (or equipment for one)
-furniture
Blagsta
Minimum cage, maximum cage
We'll try and come on Weds
yes lets forget all about your friends donnas post as they seemed to overlook what this thread was about fyi your a talentless hypocritical wankfest who lacks even the one trick.
ooooo look its another internet hardman
@BA,
Tthe activist 'scene' has many many 'kitchen' resources, etc, its what they excel at, are they going to support these workers or be sadly found wanting?
I do wonder if the fact they are car workers has limited support from them, though one would have thought unionists would have mobilised, will there be a national event?
Tthe activist 'scene' has many many 'kitchen' resources, etc, its what they excel at, are they going to support these workers or be sadly found wanting?
I do wonder if the fact they are car workers has limited support from them, though one would have thought unionists would have mobilised, will there be a national event?
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
I've been told that they are already...we shall see...
Apparently, Harringey Solidarity Group will pass on cash, send cheques and postal orders (made out to HSG) to PO Box 2474, London, N8.
dennisr
the acceptable face
More info re today:
Protest outside High Court 9.45am Monday 6 April
The UNITE trade union convenor for the occupied Visteon plant in Enfield, north London faces the possibility jail on Monday morning 06 April.
The convenor, Kevin Nolan, is a named individual in the injunction obtained by KPMG, the administrators for the allegedly bankrupt Visteon UK, which is
attempting to evict more than 100 workers who have occupied the factory since Wednesday 01 April in response to the announcement the previous afternoon of the closure of this plant and two other Visteon facilities, located in West Belfast and Basildon, Essex respectively.
Kevin is due to appear in the High Court, Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand, London WC2 at 10.30 AM. In response, supporters of the Visteon occupations in the United Left of UNITE have called a protest from 9.45 AM outside the High Court (nearest Tube stations: Temple and Holborn).
Please make every effort to attend and help build support both for the occupations and for Kevin in his principled stand to defend his members' jobs and terms of employment.
from National Shop Stewards Network email
dennisr
the acceptable face
fuck off
Urbanblues
Was that it, life?
Some Unite activists bought about 20 sleepings, towels, fold-up chairs, toothpaste, hygene goods, water etc to the Vesteon site at Enfield on Saturday afternoon.
At the moment some local Turkish restaurants, amongst others, are supplying the occupation with meals.
I’ve been told that what would help to lift morale is ‘hard-copy’ letters of support from unions, branches, TCs, activists, etc.
dennisr
the acceptable face
Important point made on this thread:
http://www.urban75.net/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=8967508&postcount=16
"As well as proper redundancy payments, some are suggesting that the skills of the workers who can make anything in plastic, should be used to make increasingly needed parts for green products - bike and trailer parts, solar panels, turbines, etc. Government investment in this rather than throwing money at bankers could be profitable & save jobs in the long term."
So jaed - all sorts of possibilities arise
http://www.urban75.net/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=8967508&postcount=16
In Bloom said:
"As well as proper redundancy payments, some are suggesting that the skills of the workers who can make anything in plastic, should be used to make increasingly needed parts for green products - bike and trailer parts, solar panels, turbines, etc. Government investment in this rather than throwing money at bankers could be profitable & save jobs in the long term."
So jaed - all sorts of possibilities arise
dennisr
the acceptable face
One week on:
"Almost a week into the occupation of the West Belfast Visteon plant, the action is rock solid. The plant is now adorned with banners attacking Ford for betraying the Visteon/Ford workers. Unite flags now fly from the factory roof.
A 24 hour rota has been drawn up to maintain the occupation around the clock; braziers have been brought in and tents have been put up in the grounds as workers prepare – if necessary – for the long haul.
There has been overwhelming support from the local community and from across the city. In a week in which 1500 manufacturing redundancies were announced in Northern Ireland, working class people don’t need to be convinced of the need to struggle to defend jobs and skills."
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2009/04/0602.html
"Almost a week into the occupation of the West Belfast Visteon plant, the action is rock solid. The plant is now adorned with banners attacking Ford for betraying the Visteon/Ford workers. Unite flags now fly from the factory roof.
A 24 hour rota has been drawn up to maintain the occupation around the clock; braziers have been brought in and tents have been put up in the grounds as workers prepare – if necessary – for the long haul.
There has been overwhelming support from the local community and from across the city. In a week in which 1500 manufacturing redundancies were announced in Northern Ireland, working class people don’t need to be convinced of the need to struggle to defend jobs and skills."
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2009/04/0602.html
dennisr
the acceptable face
Is Visteon viable?
The press and some local politicians would have us believe that the Visteon closure was inevitable because the company was uneconomic and unviable. The truth is that Visteon has been deliberately run down by Ford who want to switch production to areas like South Africa where they can employ cheaper labour.
Creative accounting by Ford can make Visteon appear unviable. By paying Visteon less than the real value of the components they produce Ford can transfer profits that are in reality made in Visteon to other parts of the Company.
This is why Visteon workers – who are Ford workers in all but name – are fully justified in demanding that their pay, conditions, pensions and redundancy terms be the same as any other Ford workers. Ford’s and Visteon accounts should also be fully opened to trade union and public inspection so that we can get a true picture of what has been happening.
The press and some local politicians would have us believe that the Visteon closure was inevitable because the company was uneconomic and unviable. The truth is that Visteon has been deliberately run down by Ford who want to switch production to areas like South Africa where they can employ cheaper labour.
Creative accounting by Ford can make Visteon appear unviable. By paying Visteon less than the real value of the components they produce Ford can transfer profits that are in reality made in Visteon to other parts of the Company.
This is why Visteon workers – who are Ford workers in all but name – are fully justified in demanding that their pay, conditions, pensions and redundancy terms be the same as any other Ford workers. Ford’s and Visteon accounts should also be fully opened to trade union and public inspection so that we can get a true picture of what has been happening.
dennisr
the acceptable face
Basildon Visteon Update:
http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/latest/7132
Enfield Visteon Update
http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/latest/7134
Enfield Visteon - Diary of an occupier
http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/latest/7133
"While staff were grafting, management were breaking a sweat making sure their backs were covered. Visteon managing director Steve Gawne put his name to a spin-off company last year, Visteon Engineering Services. It seems a number of Visteon UK executives have had their pension funds transferred to this company so that they're protected. This is while allowing Visteon to go into liquidation so as to avoid the payouts the workforce are entitled to! No wonder banners hang outside the plant reading 'Frauds Motor Company' - as far as the workers are concerned, the transfer to Visteon was a stitch-up all along!"
http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/latest/7132
Enfield Visteon Update
http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/latest/7134
Enfield Visteon - Diary of an occupier
http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/latest/7133
"While staff were grafting, management were breaking a sweat making sure their backs were covered. Visteon managing director Steve Gawne put his name to a spin-off company last year, Visteon Engineering Services. It seems a number of Visteon UK executives have had their pension funds transferred to this company so that they're protected. This is while allowing Visteon to go into liquidation so as to avoid the payouts the workforce are entitled to! No wonder banners hang outside the plant reading 'Frauds Motor Company' - as far as the workers are concerned, the transfer to Visteon was a stitch-up all along!"
Is there anything that can be done with other unions or workers to put pressure on Ford in any way? Or if this new firm "Visteon Engineering Services" is providing anything to Ford perhaps workers could boycott the use of products provided by them? I'm not sure how this all works but finding out more about this new life-boat firm for the management might provide opportunities to put pressure on them in some way.
tangentlama
Nameless voices crying
lots of up to date info on the facebooks
Solidarity with the UK workers of Visteon car parts maker
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=73427661441
Support the Belfast, Enfield and Basildon Visteon/Ford workers occupations
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=68182133500
Support Visteon Factory Occupation IN Enfield London
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63177624913
Support Visteon UK Workers! Basildon, Belfast, Enfield
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=62501485891
plus on lib com
http://libcom.org/tags/visteon-occupation
Solidarity with the UK workers of Visteon car parts maker
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=73427661441
Support the Belfast, Enfield and Basildon Visteon/Ford workers occupations
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=68182133500
Support Visteon Factory Occupation IN Enfield London
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63177624913
Support Visteon UK Workers! Basildon, Belfast, Enfield
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=62501485891
plus on lib com
http://libcom.org/tags/visteon-occupation
dennisr
the acceptable face
http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/7142
Rob Williams, the trade union convenor of the Linamar plant in Swansea, an ex-Visteon plant, has been visiting the occupations. He spoke to The Socialist
"If anyone is cynical about the potential power of the trade union movement, they should spend half an hour in one of the occupations. These workers have shown that it is possible to fight back and do something about the many attacks on jobs, pay and conditions. Visteon workers are not asking for fat cat-style payouts. What they want is what they were promised by the bosses."...
"You can see now the reason behind the creation of Visteon, it allowed Ford to get out of its responsibilities. But what changes everything now is the occupations. Now these workers are in with half a chance. If they had walked away on that Tuesday this struggle would have been to all intents and purposes over." ...
"If Ford refuse to reopen these plants, they should be nationalised and run under democratic workers' control and management. They could then be re-tooled to produce 'green' vehicles and other products for the benefit of society as a whole."
Rob Williams, the trade union convenor of the Linamar plant in Swansea, an ex-Visteon plant, has been visiting the occupations. He spoke to The Socialist
"If anyone is cynical about the potential power of the trade union movement, they should spend half an hour in one of the occupations. These workers have shown that it is possible to fight back and do something about the many attacks on jobs, pay and conditions. Visteon workers are not asking for fat cat-style payouts. What they want is what they were promised by the bosses."...
"You can see now the reason behind the creation of Visteon, it allowed Ford to get out of its responsibilities. But what changes everything now is the occupations. Now these workers are in with half a chance. If they had walked away on that Tuesday this struggle would have been to all intents and purposes over." ...
"If Ford refuse to reopen these plants, they should be nationalised and run under democratic workers' control and management. They could then be re-tooled to produce 'green' vehicles and other products for the benefit of society as a whole."
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