Supporters of Socialist Appeal from
Romford paid a solidarity visit to the pickets outside the Visteon
plant at Basildon on Sunday. Although the workers have voted to
support the deal conceded by the Visteon bosses (see report posted
above this one – just click here ) they are staying on the line until they are 100%
certain that the deal will go through. As one picket put it "…when
it’s in my bank account, then I will trust them." Both Basildon and
Enfield have declared for the deal and several pickets asked us if we
had heard what was happening in Belfast.
The workers have learnt a lot over the
last few weeks not least about the benefits of struggle – and the struggle for benefits. One worker
drily commented that he was initially denied any benefit because he
had not signed on in time as he had been out looking to see if there
was any work around – which he was told was ‘not good enough an
excuse.’ You could not make it up. Others discussed the problems
relating to their pensions and compared this to the massive payouts
given to City bosses when they lost their jobs.This may seem unimportant until you remember that many of those at the Basildon site had been there for decades.
All the pickets wished to express their
thanks to those who have given their support and encouraged them not
to just give in and walk away but make a stand. This will stand as an
example to others. Even during the time we were there, many car
drivers tooted their horns in support as they drove by the site –
this in the backyard of ‘Basildon Man,’ the 80’s icon of Thatcherism.
One idiot did shout out "Get a job!" as he shot past which was
kind of missing the point but got a wry laugh anyway. Despite the
appalling way they have been treated the pickets have not lost their
sense of humour: as one bloke put it: "At least it’s not snowing
-yet."
