FORMER workers for Visteon UK have scored a massive victory after the firm agreed to a redundancy payout.

The workers celebrated outside the Visteon UK plant, in Christopher Martin Road, Basildon, after parent-firm Visteon did a huge u-turn and agreed to a payout scheme for its former employees.

It follows a debate initiated by Basildon MP Angela Smith in the Commons.

The new deal includes three months pay in lieu for redundancy and 52 weeks salary. There is will also be a week’s salary for every year served by workers aged 41 or under, or one-and-a-half week’s salary for every year served by workers aged over 41.

Ballots on whether to accept the deal are taking took place at 2pm on Friday at the three plants affected by the cuts, in Basildon, Enfield in North London and Belfast.

Frank Jepson, 49, of Southwark Path, Basildon, convenor for the Basildon workers, said the continued pressure of workers had brought about the change.

He said: “It's a huge victory and a massive u-turn, considering they ditched us with no money.

“This comes down to the actions of our members who have made them come up with the offer they have produced."

FULL STORY IN MONDAY'S ECHO