Bethan Jenkins AC/AM South Wales West

Bethan speaks with Visteon pensioners

BETHAN Jenkins AM joined around 100 Visteon pensioners as they leafletted Ford workers on Tuesday at the company’s engine plant in Bridgend.

Workers arriving for the afternoon shift were handed leaflets from the Swansea Visteon Pension Action Group, explaining how Ford’s refusal to honour an agreement to mirror pensions, which former staff believed was in place when Visteon was spun out of the car maker in 2001, could mean many of them losing up to 50% of their entitlements.

Some of these 700 pensioners from Swansea and the surrounding area, many of whom worked for the two companies for over 30 years, are now facing having to sell their homes or return to work after Visteon applied to enter the Pension Protection Fund, which is not able to not pay their entitlements in full.

The Swansea pensioners were joined by a coachload of fellow action group members from Basildon, who regularly picket their old plant in England.

Visteon pensioners

Bethan said: “I think this was a worthwhile exercise in raising awareness of the Visteon pensions’ issue. Many of the leafleters I spoke to said conversations that they had held with Ford workers as they entered or left work revealed that many of them, too, are worried about their retirements.

“I hope it doesn’t come to that, just as I hope that Ford will see sense and reward these workers properly for the long years of service they have given to the company.

“I have now also laid a statement of opinion in the Assembly, and am asking my fellow Assembly Members to sign up and support the Visteon workers.”

Workers braved the cold to make their point