The role and activities of the Ford Visteon Workers (Enfield) Support Group
This booklet looks at the effectiveness of the Ford Visteon Workers (Enfield) Support Group (SG) that was set up in April 2009. The group was formed solely to give solidarity and support to the Enfield Ford Visteon workers who first occupied, then picketed their factory for six weeks from April 1st to 15th May 2009. This pamphlet is intended as a record of the support group that set up to assist the Enfield workers and as a tool for future workers support groups. We do not discuss the actual dispute here, as that has been looked at in detail already (see references at the end for further reading). We also accept that our experiences may not be applicable to every situation.
There were 3 Ford Visteon car parts plants involved in the joint struggle against closure, including one in Belfast which was occupied by the workers throughout the dispute, and one in Basildon, Essex where the workers effectively picketed their factory around the clock for the whole dispute.
Ford Visteon Enfield Workers Occupation - Alan Woodward
Submitted by Red Marriott on Oct 18 2009 17:52
An eyewitness account of the 2009 Enfield Ford-Visteon factory occupation, written immediately after the event. The author was the only full-time occupier who was not a former worker at the plant.
An eyewitness account and first thoughts
Note to readers
Sticky fingers: KPMG and the accountancy oligopoly
Following their involvement in the bankruptcy of car parts manufacturer Visteon, John Barker examines KPMG and the murky world of the "big four" accountancy firms.
Visteon asks to pay millions in executive bonuses
Submitted by Steven. on Jul 12 2009 09:59
Visteon Corp., which moved last week to cut off retiree health-care benefits, has asked a bankruptcy judge to authorize up to $80 million in management and insider bonuses.
Visteon hit the headlines earlier this year when their 600 UK workers responded to being sacked by occupying their workplaces and winning their redundancy pay which they had been denied. Full coverage on libcom was provided here: http://libcom.org/tags/visteon-occupation
Sacked union convenor reinstated at Linamar Swansea
Submitted by Choccy on Jun 11 2009 00:33
Rob Williams, the union convenor sacked at the Linamar plant in Swansea, has been reinstated just hours before plant workers were due to go on strike.
Workers at the Linamar (formerly Visteon) plant were due to begin strike action at 6am this morning. Workers had overwhelmingly voted in support of an indefinite 'all-out' strike, with the chief demand being the reinstatment of their fellow worker and union convenor. The vote had an 88% turn-out.
The struggle at Visteon, the union and the development of class consciousness, 2009
Submitted by Steven. on Jun 9 2009 18:00
Joe Thorne from The Commune analyses the Ford Visteon workers occupation and dispute, the role of the union, and draws lessons for workers in the future. The article was published on 5th May 2009.
Report and reflections on the UK Ford-Visteon dispute 2009 - a post-Fordist struggle
Submitted by Red Marriott on Jun 9 2009 10:39
A detailed account and analysis of the struggle of Ford-Visteon car manufacturing workers who occupied and picketed their plants after being sacked when their employers declared themselves bankrupt.
In June 2000 Ford Motor Company outsourced the production of certain component parts to a new company called Visteon - in reality a spin off company of Ford and in which Ford retained a 60% holding. Visteon runs factories all over the globe: in America, Europe and Asia, for example.
Linamar workers in Swansea to strike this Thursday
Submitted by Choccy on Jun 8 2009 20:15
Workers at the Linamar plant in Swansea are set to strike this Thursday in support of sacked union convenor Rob Williams.
Following recent news that workers in Swansea's Linamar (formerly Visteon) plant had overwhelmingly voted in favour of industrial action in support of sacked union convenor Rob Williams, it was announced last week that the indefinite all-out strike is set to begin at 6am Thursday 11 June.
Swansea Linamar workers to strike in support of sacked convenor
Submitted by Choccy on May 28 2009 14:16
Workers at the Linamar plant in Swansea have voted in favour of an all-out strike in support of sacked union convenor Rob Williams.
Following the sacking of Unite union convenor Rob Williams at the Swansea Linamar plant, other workers have voted to strike to have their colleague reinstated. It is understood that turnout for the vote was 88%, with 139 voting 'yes' in support of the strike, and 19 voting 'no' against it.
A representative from the National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) said of the vote:
Belfast Ford/Visteon workers vote to accept deal
Submitted by Red Marriott on May 3 2009 16:27
Ford/Visteon Belfast workers today (Sunday 3rd May) voted 147 to 34 to accept the deal already accepted on Friday by Enfield and Basildon Ford/Visteon workers.
But workers have pledged that the occupation in Belfast, and 24hr pickets in Enfield and Basildon, will continue until the deal is signed, sealed and delivered to their satisfaction. Certain details of the settlement remain to be clarified.
Can comment on articles and discussions