Protests grow in battle to save car jobs

NATIONWIDE protests against job cuts at a car parts firm were set to continue today.

More than 560 jobs at Visteon factories in Enfield, Basildon and Belfast are to be axed and staff want positions saved or better redundancy packages.

Up to 80 workers clambered on to the roof at the factory in Enfield yesterday and pledged to remain there until the company agrees to meet the union Unite.

A similar number were outside the factory in Basildon, while about 100 employees held an overnight sit-in at the plant in Belfast.

Visteon blamed huge losses for the decision to shut the UK operation. But Jimmy Kelly of Unite said: "A lot of these employees have spent their working lives at this company.

"To be rewarded with their jobs being extinguished at a stroke of an administrator's pen is no way to be treated."

Staff representatives say Ford, the company's former owner and main customer, promised contracts which should be honoured. Signs saying "Ford Sell Out" were hung around the Belfast plant's car park, which has become a rallying point.

Ford said: "Today's battle is with their employer, not the previous employer."