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FORD were "jeered"at Cliffs Pavillion

The Visteon Pensioners were out in force at the Cliff's Pavillion, Westcliff, tonight to welcome the Ford finalists of the Essex Countywide Business Awards (Environmental awareness category). Ford's 'values' statement refer to the fact that .....'we do the right thing for our people'. Obviously their former employees, many with over 35 years loyal service,do not come into this category, so we were their to reinforce the fact that the 'Family of Ford' is just a mere branding statement, and of no substance. We received great support from many of those attending the awards who jeered Ford in the event.

Westminster Debate
MPs and ministers unanimously supported the motion that Ford owes a duty of care to the Visteon Pensioners. You can read the full Hansard Transcript here Press release
You can watch an edited recording of the debate here See also the BBC News and BBC Wales and ITV Wales Yellow Advertiser

Weekly Meeting Report
Thompsons have now sent out the document pack which provides information issued in and around the time of spin-off. A successful demo took place outside Cliffs Pavilion theatre, Westcliff on Friday 10th May where representatives from Ford Motor Company were in attendance to see if they had won a business award for the ‘Environment’. We received many messages of support from the attendees and passing public who made a point of saying they are aware of our campaign for pension justice, it is believed that Ford should do the right thing and pay up. Terrific turnout at the Enfield picket last Saturday, 23 a new record. The group received plenty of support from passing traffic. ________________________________________

Welsh Assembly Support
At the inaugural meeting, Bethan Jenkins, Plaid Cymru AM for South Wales West and chair of the Cross-Party Group in Support of Visteon Pensioners, said: “I was surprised and very pleased how well last night’s meeting went. A lot of the Visteon boys made the trip from Swansea, together with three from Basildon, who made a presentation to 15 AMs – around a quarter of the Assembly – who listened carefully to what is a complicated subject, having had a long day in the Senedd, and showed great enthusiasm for joining in the campaign afterwards.

“They now recognise, as I do, that it is crucial that we try and keep up the political pressure on Ford to do the right thing and settle this case before it comes to court. You will be seeing a lift in Visteon-related activity in the Assembly in the weeks and months to come, as we increase our support for the pensioners. It is something the Assembly and the Welsh Government can join in with, as both have in the past given their ongoing support to the pensioners and to their campaign.

“This remains an injustice that cannot stand. I’m grateful to those AMs who came along and are now prepared to become involved in this battle. I think this kind of cross-party, united front will demonstrate to Ford that we do not accept the current situation, and that we are looking to the company to put things right.”

2013 Anniversary Demo

Video of the day
Over 200 pensioners marched from Unite HQ to Parliament. Len McCluskey the general secretary gave a speech of support saying that the union are 100% behind the fight and will not give up until Ford Motor Company meet their obligations and the legal action will continue until we get an acceptable conclusion.

Professional Engineer
Unite Press Release
Andy B and Stephen Metcalfe on BBC Essex
BBC Wales

Forthcoming Events
Every Thursday, Basildon 19.30
Every Sat Rayleigh Essex Ford 10-2
May 16, 11.00-1.00 Picket and barbecue Dagenham Motors A10 at Enfield
May 29, 8.00pm Wind Street Swansea
TBD, Enfield Railway at 7.30 – meeting

Open Letter to Ford
In an open letter to Alan Mullaly (CEO of Ford), Stephen Metcalfe MP on behalf of the All Party Parliamentary Committee writes "We again ask, in light of your morale responsibilities, you reconsider your stance on this issue, and do the right thing" Read the full document here Professional Pensions
Legal Updates
Detroit News Bloomberg
Agreement has been reached for a Group Litigation action for the 1350 pension plan members included in the legal action.  This was obtained at a court hearing in December 2012. The Court also directed that a Case Management Conference (CMC) be held prior to the end of April 2013.  Notification of the actual CMC date is expected within the next couple of weeks.

Why Ford is Responsible
VPAG now have sufficient evidence to prove that Visteon UK was never a viable profitable organisation and employees were never told of the risks involved. Read the full revealing facts here
Read what Ford told its employees here

Go to the legal page for full details

Bill Hurr (37 years service) to his MP

On Thursday, at our regular weekly VPAG meeting, the committee announced that you had received a reply to your Open Letter to Mr Mulally, unfortunately not from him but one of his underlings in Europe. I can imagine the annoyance and frustration this sort of behaviour must have caused, but in my experience this is the way Ford tend to do business. They try to put on a facade of employees being an "extended family" and of being a caring company, but in truth are really just hard faced businessmen and the only thing that matters is profit. As an employee of over 37 years it was my experience that the only thing Ford understands is a "bloody nose" when it comes to negotiations of any sort. Typically when they announced the imminent closure of the Genk plant in Belgium the employees welded the gates shut and took up the railway lines so that nothing could go in or out of the factory for months. Ford recently announced that each of the 4,000 employees would get $187,000 compensation! I imagine the workers at the Dagenham Stamping plant and Southampton Transit plant will only be offered a very minimal redundancy package? As Mr Mulally does not seem want to meet with you, or even have the decency to give you a personal reply I think this makes the need for a Select Committee hearing even more important, it seems that Ford need to be dragged kicking and screaming before Parliament to give their evidence which as I understand it would be public and broadcast on TV? The Welsh Assembly are to have a presentation from VPAG on Tuesday in Cardiff and I understand that the Welsh Affairs Committee has said they will hold a Select Committee hearing if required. Could I ask you both to continue in your excellent support of the Visteon Pensioners and do whatever you can to press for a Select Committee hearing as soon as possible please? Very best regards W. Hurr (VPAG)

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