Former Visteon workers call for pensions justice in London

FORMER Visteon workers have marched to Downing Street to call for pensions justice.

Visteon UK, in Fabian Way, was created out of Ford in 2000 and pensioners claim they were given assurances their pensions would be protected.

But workers fear losing up to 50 per cent of their pensions after Visteon UK went into administration.

More than 200 people flocked to London today on the fourth anniversary of the collapse of Visteon.

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013

A letter was delivered to 10 Downing Street asking the Prime Minister David Cameron to call for a select committee hearing into the circumstances that led to thousands of workers losing their pensions.

Swansea East MP Sian James also asked during Prime Minister's Question Time whether David Cameron would meet with protestors. He declined due to a previous engagement but his aides agreed to receive details from Mrs James on behalf of campaigners.

Unite national officer Roger Maddison said: "To mark the fourth anniversary of the tragic day when thousands lost their pensions, former Visteon workers are marching to parliament to call on David Cameron to support their cause.

"The former Ford employees believed the pensions they built up over years would be safe when they transferred to Visteon."

He said they believed "Ford has an obligation to the thousands of ex-employees who paid into its pension scheme all their working lives.

"We believe the government should be putting pressure on Ford to pay up."

A Ford spokesman said the company had had an on-going dialogue with MPs.

"While Ford recognises the severity of the situation for former Visteon UK employees, Visteon became an independent company in 2000 and was responsible for its own business decisions," said the spokesman.

"Ford fully fulfilled both its legal and moral responsibilities to former Visteon UK employees.

"Ford was not involved in Visteon UK Directors' 2009 decision to put Visteon UK into administration. Consequently, Ford believes that questions regarding Visteon UK being placed into administration and the subsequent impact on the Visteon Pension fund should be answered by Visteon UK management and the trustees of the Visteon Pension Fund."

The next Visteon Pension Action Group meeting in Swansea will take place at the Railwaymen's Club, in Wind Street, on March 27 from 7.30pm.