Former Visteon workers told Ford will not save pensions
BOSSES at motor giant Ford have told former employees they will not step in to support their pensions.
The former Visteon workers, who face losing a large amount of their pensions, took their battle to New York when they met with Ford management.
Around 150 former Visteon workers gathered last night in the Railmen's Club in Wind Street, Swansea, to hear how the talks went.
Rob Williams, union convenor for the Linamar (formerly Visteon) plant in Jersey Marine, told the packed meeting that Ford had not agreed to their request.
He said: "If we are honest, all of us expected the response we got."
He added: "Perhaps unsurprisingly, Ford commented that it's nothing to do with them."
The workers fear that, unless Ford steps in, they will lose up to 40 per cent of their pensions.
Last night's meeting heard the cost could range between £200 and £350 million. Ford has argued that it met, or exceeded, its obligations under the agreement when Visteon became independent in 2000.
The workers believe they were promised lifetime guarantees for their pensions from Ford and, following Visteon's collapse in March last year, Ford should honour this.
However, the workers, some of whom gave more than 30 years service to the plant, claim they are entitled to the same pension benefits after Visteon was set up that they received under Ford.
Mr Williams read an account of the meeting, written by Trevor Jones, who was in New York on their behalf.
He said Ford's chief financial officer Lewis Booth told them: "I am unable to meet your requests."
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The former car plant workers have received the backing of regional AMs Peter Black and Bethan Jenkins, who both attended last night's meeting.
After the meeting was told that Ford does not intend to back their claims, the discussion turned to legal proceedings.
Mr Williams told his former colleagues that attention would now turn to legal proceedings in an effort to force Ford to support them.
Now, in an effort to gather supportive evidence, the campaign is appealing to all the employees who worked for Ford at the time of the transfer to Visteon to recall meetings they had and advice they received on pensions.
Mr Williams said: "If you were in a meeting and somebody told you before the spin-off (creation of Visteon) to transfer your pension, send an email."
Last week, following a major protest outside the Assembly, regional secretary Andy Richards said: "Unite will firmly support ex-Visteon workers fighting for pension justice.
"Ford made copper- bottomed promises to the workers before they were transferred to Visteon, and we intend to hold them to these promises."
5 Comments
by Tony, Neath
Wednesday, February 03 2010, 6:18PM
“WHEN I WAS FORCED TO RETIRE AGAINEST MY WILL IN FEBUARY 2009 FROM HERMIS (PARCELNET) MY PENSION WORTH 9 AND HALF K SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN MY FINAL PAY PACKET IT'S NOW 12 MONTHS ON AND I'M STILL WAITING”
by Ray Gilling, Llanelli
Sunday, January 31 2010, 1:21PM
“Make no mistake about it Mr.Jones we are certainly not 'fools' so please don't insult us pensioners with such comments as yours. When Ford Motor Company spun off Visteon (under threat of closure) all the Ford workers at that time sought and were given contractual guarantees that their working pay and conditions including pensions would 'mirror Ford workers for life'. Ford/Visteon are running away from their financial obligations and expecting the tax payer to pick up the cost of our much reduced pensions. If these companies are allowed to get way with this others will no doubt follow and drive yet another nail into the pension coffin. But be assured we will fight this cause all the way to the courts if needs be and even people such as you might benefit in the future from our efforts.”
by Achmeds, Uncle
Friday, January 29 2010, 9:38AM
“When my job transferred to another company. I was given the choice. Either freeze the pension that I had paid into for many years or transfer it all into the new company. I chose to freeze it and start a second pension fund with the new company. Some of my colleagues chose to transfer theirs in full. Were the Visteon workers offered this choice or not ? If they were , I am afraid it may be a case of making the wrong decision . At the time of typing this comment it will remain to be seen if I have made the right decision . I hope that when I do retire there will be enough in the pension pot for me to have what I have paid into for many years.”
by Bill Hurr, Essex
Thursday, January 28 2010, 11:32PM
“Ford gave copper bottomed assurances which were signed by top management and were hotly debated at many Union Meetings. If Mr. Jones would care to look at the Visteon Pensioners Action Group website under "Evidence" he will see that all the assurances and promises were not just verbal. Ford has coldly and callously dumped thousands of employees without a second thought, and today announced profits of over £2 billion, so can hardly claim to be in financial difficulties unlike many of the pensioners who are facing cuts of 40% in their pensions and the outlook of no further increases for the rest of their lives. Mr Jones does't seem to be very sympathetic to the plight of these people,many of them his fellow countrymen, I hope for his sake it never happens to his pension. I worked for Ford for 36 years and for Visteon for 1 year and started my pension with the "copper bottomed" assurances in writing that all terms and conditions would "mirror" those of my Ford service. It seems Ford think they can simply tear up agreements as and when they like, but the Welsh Assembly members and over 60 MPs in Westminster say they cannot, as does the Barrister who is advising the Union and the action group. Please Mr Jones don't be so patronising as to call your fellow countrymen fools, they most certainly are not !”
by Dyfreg Jones, Port Talbot
Thursday, January 28 2010, 3:31PM
“The union convener is incredibly naive, so I feel incredibly sorry for the workers entrusting their hope in the man.
Comments such as ¿The workers BELIEVE they were promised lifetime guarantees¿ & "If you were in a meeting and SOMEBODY told you so¿ holds no legal argument.
Surely on such an important matter both the union and employees would have received paperwork relating to the transfer of employment from Ford to Visteon, with detailed terms & conditions relating to the pension transfer, if not then they are fools...
Then again there is an old saying ¿A FOOL & HIS MONEY ARE EASILY PARTED¿”