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Sacked workers occupy car factory | Sacked workers occupy car factory |
(10 minutes later) | |
Union leaders say workers will occupy the Visteon car parts factory in Belfast until they can reach agreement over terms of redundancy. | Union leaders say workers will occupy the Visteon car parts factory in Belfast until they can reach agreement over terms of redundancy. |
Earlier on Tuesday the company announced the closure of the plant with the loss of more than 200 jobs. | Earlier on Tuesday the company announced the closure of the plant with the loss of more than 200 jobs. |
It is also closing two other UK factories in in Basildon and Enfield. | It is also closing two other UK factories in in Basildon and Enfield. |
Davy McMurray, from the Unite trade union in Northern Ireland said the way the job cuts were announced was "brutal." | Davy McMurray, from the Unite trade union in Northern Ireland said the way the job cuts were announced was "brutal." |
"The administrators came in, took a meeting of the workforce and told them their employment was terminated." | "The administrators came in, took a meeting of the workforce and told them their employment was terminated." |
Mr McMurray said that because the company is in administration the workers will only get statutory redundancy payments. | |
Visteon took over the former Ford plant in Belfast in 2000. | Visteon took over the former Ford plant in Belfast in 2000. |
On Tuesday, administrators KPMG said it had no alternative but to close the factories. | On Tuesday, administrators KPMG said it had no alternative but to close the factories. |
It said the business had not been profitable "since its incorporation in 2000" and Visteon UK's reported losses totalled £669m. | It said the business had not been profitable "since its incorporation in 2000" and Visteon UK's reported losses totalled £669m. |
John Hansen, joint administrator, said: "The entire automotive supply chain has been under pressure for a number of years. | John Hansen, joint administrator, said: "The entire automotive supply chain has been under pressure for a number of years. |
"In the current economic downturn, car sales have dropped dramatically, which has caused further severe pressure on parts suppliers." | "In the current economic downturn, car sales have dropped dramatically, which has caused further severe pressure on parts suppliers." |
KPMG said a separate UK company, Visteon Engineering Services Ltd, was unaffected by the move and would continue "to trade as normal". | KPMG said a separate UK company, Visteon Engineering Services Ltd, was unaffected by the move and would continue "to trade as normal". |