Ex-ford workers in pensions protest

Hundreds of former employees of motoring giant Ford yesterday protested over the loss of part of their pensions.

By The Newsroom

Published 22nd Jan 2010, 10:03 BST

Updated 22nd Jan 2010, 10:03 BST

The former employees gathered outside the Welsh Assembly to fight for their full pensions after the UK arm of the car parts firm that took over Ford plants went into administration last year, at a cost of 1,000 jobs.

The Ford employees transferred to Visteon when the Ford plants in Basildon, Belfast, Enfield and Swansea were taken over by the company in 2000.

The Unite union, which organised the protest, said the Government's pension protection fund will only cover a proportion of the workers' pensions. It said the taxpayer should not have to foot the bill.

The union said Ford made firm commitments to protect the pensions of their workers when they transferred to Visteon.

Ford said it had met or exceeded its obligations