Workers occupy Visteon Factory - updates and discussion

We have a comrade that works at a Visteon plant close to Düsseldorf, Germany. We are preparing a leaftlet for the work-mates there. If you have any new information concering the occupations please let us know either by posting in this thread or by PM.

some (specifically Enfield) links for everybody:

Website (up and running soon): http://www.visteonoccupation.org/
Libcom Blog: http://libcom.org/tags/visteon-occupation
ITV Video Clips: http://www.itnsource.com/shotlist//ITN/2009/04/01/T01040918/?s=visteon
Indymedia Search Results: https://london.indymedia.org.uk/search/find_content?search%5Bsearch_terms%5D=enfield
Financial Times article: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/06ca251a-209f-11de-b930-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1
BBC News Article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7976783.stm
Lenin's Tomb article: http://leninology.blogspot.com/2009/04/support-ford-visteon-workers-occupation.html

Peace

also, please send any messages of support to visteonoccupation@googlemail.com and they will be relayed to the occupiers

thanks

Report on rallly today, incorporating interview with worker and analysis of solidarity strategy.

http://thecommune.wordpress.com/2009/04/04/notes-from-the-visteon-rally/

done!

to be improved shortly as well.

good stuff

anyone have a leaflet? it turns out there's a plant just a few miles from me. confusing as it was once a ford plant and now listed as automotive components, llc but the listing redirects to visteon.com. anyway, if there's a leaflet being used maybe i could revise it a bit for u.s. distro. don't know how much it could help, but building the seeds of international solidarity can never hurt.

which country? leaflet coming soon!

which country? leaflet coming soon!

Really impressed by the turnout yesterday and the morale amongst the workers. They desperately need sleeping bags and funding if any other Londoners are considering visiting the site.

I'll see if Manc AF can raise some money this week. Are both SE sites in need of funds?

Just heard that Belfast plant is holding a 'fun day' today....myself Deezer and Choccy plan to head along, will report back later, unless I break my leg on a bouncy castle.

Not really sure about the situation in Basildon, it wasn't discussed yesterday.

articles and a leaflet available here: https://london.indymedia.org.uk/search/find_content?search%5Bsearch_terms%5D=enfield

All good in the Enfield factory at present. There's been a scare with security trying new tactics to enter the occupied part, but they have again been repelled. Morale is still high with many people's families and friends visting, along with BBC News again, a Unite researcher and members of the local community. Food and sleeping supplies are continually arriving.

Tomorrow could be a big day for the occupation due to the court hearing; if anyone can make it here, at any time of day, their presence would be gladly appreciated.

Thanks

could you talk to them about the blog for enfield, see if they want to add stuff? or you could help them maybe?

Will see what we can do...maybe a few photos as well.

An article on the Socialist Worker site dated yesterday about Basildon employees demonstrating outside their factory: http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=17544

It appears that there is uncertainty there about where to go now, with their occupation having ended. They aren't represented on the internet (other than in that SW article) and therefore it's hard to know what they might like in terms of support.

The address of the plant is as follows:

Christopher Martin Road
Basildon, Essex SS14 3HG
United Kingdom
Phone : ‎+44 1268 705300
Fax : ‎+44 1268 287456

Might be worthwhile asking the Enfield occupiers whether they've had any contact and also seeing if anyone can make it up there (Googlemaps says it's 30 miles from Enfield) or has sympathetic contacts up there.

Brilliant stuff comrades, I'm glad anarchists & the such have got so involved so soon. Same goes for the school occupations in Glasgow.

Is there a phone number/email address that messages of support can be sent to?(Preferably to the workers in the plant, not a union official, hehe).

yes, please send messages to visteonoccupation@googlemail.com. the email account is checked on site. thanks.

Some pics from the open day at the Belfast plant...was well attended, and the workers are as determined as ever to stay put.

The workers have requested the following:

-sleeping bags
-kitchenware
-marquee/gazebo (or equipment for one)
-furniture

Tomorrow there's a demonstration at the High Court, Strand in support of UNITE convenor Kevin Nolan (not the Newcastle striker) who's threatened with a prison term for his role in the occupation. Injunction starts at 10.30am, assemble at 9.30am.

Also the occupiers have requested the presence of some people onsite from early tomorrow morning in anticipation of a visit from the bailiffs.

The Visteon Occupations Explained

June 2000 – Ford Motor Company created a subsidiary called Visteon. Ford employees at these plants were given ‘mirrored’ contracts, i.e. Ford Motor Company terms and conditions for life. No other contracts regarding Visteon were ever signed by Ford employees. Since that date the employees at these plants have assisted Ford/Visteon in every way to facilitate the introduction of new products and adopt ‘lean manufacturing practices’.

31st March 2009 – At lunchtime all employees at the Belfast, Basildon and Enfield plants were informed with six minutes notice to leave the premises as Visteon had ceased trading and was now in receivership. Most of the employees averaged 20 years plus of service. There is no redundancy package or payment of monies owed. In all, 600 workers now face extreme financial difficulties, which include the loss of their homes and a very uncertain future. Why? Because Ford Motor Company will not honour our contracts or agreements that they and Visteon originally signed.

Workers in Belfast and Enfield have occupied their plants and WILL NOT leave until Ford/Visteon honours their agreements to give employees what is contractually theirs by right.

As of 31st March 2009, 600 people will no longer be paying tax, National Insurance or buying goods but claiming state benefits and looking for someone else to provide for their family and housing needs. Does the Labour Government think this is acceptable? WE DO NOT.

Ford/Visteon workers have been treated in a disgusting, callous manner, but that is only because they think they can get away with it under this Government, a Government we thought was full of promise, but is just full of promises. We are not statistics; we are REAL people with REAL children and REAL difficulties.

Please give us your support and let’s not sit and wonder who is next. Last week we were proud workers. We still have our pride but no work.

SUPPORT THE VISTEON WORKERS

u.s. turns out there are something like 2,900 people who work there, 1,200 are UAW.

c&p from shopstewards.net mailing list:

Ive been getting messages from the facebook support groups that this isnt the case, and he will be attending the court hearing.

oops yeah sorry just seen message on facebook group wall - pls ignore my post

got it.

http://www.facebook.com/s.php?q=visteon+car+parts&init=q&sid=98161a699994b052560525ed175f3f50#/group.php?sid=0&gid=63177624913&ref=search

So has anything been put together for distribution at other Ford plants? Merseyside AF could hand some stuff out at Halewood.

Edit: Nm, just found the leaflet by Visteon workers on here.

Am I also able to get contact numbers from each plant, that aren't union intermediates?

High court charges dropped according to Twitter:

http://twitter.com/visteonworker