Visteon workers 'misled' by Ford [Edition 2]
Visteon workers 'misled' by Ford [Edition 2]
0 Comments | South Wales Evening Post, Jul 27, 2010
UNION bosses are calling for former Visteon workers who face losing up to half of their pension to be compensated.
In a letter to Ford Motor Company, Unite's lawyers are seeking compensation from the company for providing "misleading" advice to Ford workers who transferred to Visteon UK in 2000. The situation involves some 700 workers at the Jersey Marine plant from the Swansea and Neath Port Talbot area.
Unite's national officer Roger Maddison said: "We believe Ford misled many of these workers, leading them to believe their pensions were safe with Visteon."
Mr Maddison claimed: "Ford failed to clearly set out the risks associated with transferring the assets staff had built up with Ford -- now many of these workers face vastly reduced pensions."
A spokesman for Ford said the company "met or exceeded its obligations under the 2000 agreement when Visteon became fully independent".
He added that, since 2000, Ford had taken a number of actions "to support Visteon and to assist in its efforts to achieve longterm viability".
The spokesman said Ford confirmed at a meeting in January with ex- Visteon workers and Unite representatives that it would not provide further assistance to affected parties.
