Hundreds at Belfast Visteon protest

Updated: 16:52, Wednesday, 8 April 2009

Sacked Visteon workers expected thousands to gather for a rally in Belfast but only a few hundred people turned out to support them.

1 of 1 Visteon Sit-in at Belfast plant
Visteon
Sit-in at Belfast plant

Politicians, trade unionists and supporters of the 210 workers sacked by the Ford parts supplier marched through teeming rain from Andersonstown, west Belfast, to the nearby factory gates behind which sacked workers have been maintaining a sit in.

Last week, Visteon announced the plant was closing along with another at Basildon, Essex, and one at Enfield, north London.

Visteon UK was created in 2000 after former owners Ford decided to sell off part of its operation.

Disgruntled workers have staged a sit in complaining Ford has reneged on guarantees over employment and severance payments when Visteon was established.

The rally took place as trade union representatives were in New York for talks with Visteon seeking a resolution to the dispute.

The rally made clear Ford was seen as the culprits.

Posters declared 'Ford - the focus is on you' and 'Ford sell-out Belfast'.

Unite's Jimmy Kelly told the rally: 'We are convinced that Ford cannot walk away by giving six minutes notice to the workers here in Belfast.'

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