Hundreds of people turned out to support sacked Visteon workers for a rally in Northern Ireland today.
Politicians, trade unionists and supporters of the 210 workers sacked by the Ford parts supplier marched through teeming rain from Andersonstown in west Belfast to the nearby factory gates behind which a hardcore of sacked workers have been maintaining a sit in.
Last week, Visteon announced the plant was closing along with another at Basildon in Essex and one at Enfield in north London.
The company was created in 200 after former owners Ford decided to sell off that part of its operations.
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”.
Jimmy Kelly of the Unite trade union told the rally: “We are convinced that Ford cannot walk away by giving six minutes notice to the workers here in Belfast.”
PA