FORMER Visteon workers who face losing up to 40 per cent of their pensions have taken their case to New York.

The group Fri have travelled to the US with an officer from the Unite union to hold top level discussions with Ford management.

Rob Williams, union convener for the Linamar (formerly Visteon) plant, told the Post: "The ideal outcome is that Ford accepts their responsibility and they pay out.

"All we need of Ford is a one-off payment and once that payment is made that is it."

The Post yesterday reported how workers had lobbied AMs in Cardiff.

One former worker from Swansea told how he faces losing almost half his pension.

John Elvins, who was a shift leader until he took early retirement in 2008, revealed he had lost nearly 40 per cent of his annual pension entitlement.

"I went from being able to manage my finances to not being able to pay my bills," he said.

Mr Williams said the situation for some 750 city former workers looked bleak unless a resolution could be reached with Ford.

He said he was due to attend a meeting at union headquarters in London to get feedback on how the New York visit went.

There will then be a meeting at Swansea's Railwayman's Club on Wednesday from 7.30pm which will give local members the chance to be updated on the campaign.

Neath-based AM Bethan Jenkins said she would be following the outcome of the America visit.

"I hope Ford see sense in New York, however, if they don't, it's time this Government stepped in," she said.

"These are working-class men and women genuinely wronged through no fault of their own, and condemned to a fear of the future because of what has happened."

The former workers had thought their pension terms and conditions would have been protected when the Ford plant went to Visteon in 2000.

Ford however has argued it met or exceeded its obligations under the 2000 agreement when Visteon became independent.

In a statement, a spokesman said that, despite Ford's assistance, sustained losses meant the Visteon Corporation took the decision to put Visteon UK into administration last year. The impact of this for former employees and retirees is very regrettable. However, the contractual responsibility is with the trustees of Visteon UK's pension fund," he said.