Visteon staff end sit-in

Former workers at the Visteon car components factory in Belfast have ended their occupation of the plant this afternoon after winning an improved pay-off deal.

About 200 former employees had staged a sit-in since the plant was closed by administrators at the end of March.

They agreed to leave the premises once a compensation package was in place for payment.

However, they plan to campaign further for a deal over their pension rights.

Workers occupied the factory since 610 jobs were lost at Visteon's three plants, one in Belfast and two in England.

Workers' spokesman Gerry Campbell said the redundancy package does not compensate for the loss of jobs and trades, or the fact many have been deprived of their pension entitlements, but added that it would help them to move on with their lives.

'In terms of aligning all people for the greater good, we believe we have achieved more than we or anyone else could have ever dreamed of,' said Mr Campbell.

Visteon was set up nine years ago as a Ford spin-off and took over factories formerly owned by the car giant.

Its workforce was laid off at the end of March with just one hour's notice.

Administrators KPMG said they had no alternative but to close the three factories.

They said the business had never been profitable and Visteon UK's reported losses totalled £669m.

The Belfast workers refused to leave the plant despite administrators getting a High Court order.

They said those who had worked at the plant when it was hived off by Ford had been promised, in writing, Ford-type compensation in the event of redundancies.

However, it took more than a month before they got an offer which the employees in Belfast backed in order to end the dispute.

It included improved redundancy payments and compensation for holiday pay and in lieu of notice.