Staff of subcontractors Audi Brussels takes action for the reform of the Renault: “We get ‘peanuts'” (Brussels)

The employees of the subcontractors of the Audi Brussels factory in Vorst, including the companies Imperial Logistics and Rhenus Automotive, fall out of the boat. They cannot claim the severance payment, nor to the agreed dismissal premium.

Fundamentally injustice

According to the employees of the subcontractors, it is about a fundamental injustice. They therefore demand an urgent reform of the Renault on collective dismissal to protect themselves against the impending closures of the subcontractors. ACV trade union representative Jan Baetens was present to support employees. “These people literally get ‘peanuts’, while they work on the same chain together with the Audi employees. They may be separate companies, but what they currently receive from their own employer – that is actually no more than treating them as second -class workers. ”

According to current legislation as the main supplier, Audi should not deal with the employees of the suppliers, Baetens continues. “In the future, this government must work on a reform of the Renault Act – The main contractor must also become responsible for suppliers in the future.” Only in this way can employees be treated equally, says Baetens. According to Baetens, the Federal Government De Wever and the trade unions have to work hand in hand on that reform, something that, according to Baetens, is both profitable for employees and Belgian industry in general.

The ACV trade unionist is assisted by his fellow syndicalists. This is also the case by Saïd Benali, trade union representative for ABVV-FGTB at subcontractor Rhenus Automotive. “They pushed us aside,” said Benali. “At Audi they have negotiated a social agreement, but with us we are nowhere.”

“Forgetting history”

According to Benali, the employees of the suppliers are “a bit the forgotten of history”, but they deserve the same rights as the direct Audi employees. “We are also employees and do the same work. There must also be a solution for us, we have no perspective on the future. ” Benali also wants a reform of the Renault Act, but is for the time being less rosy about the future than baeten. “The right -wing parties and Belgian politics drive for the cart of the multinationals,” said the trade unionist.

Nabil Boukili, federal MP for PvdA-PTB, also presented present at the demonstration at Albertinaplein. “We support the employees of the suppliers. A thousand employees of the subcontractors lose their job at the end of the month, without any solution. We are here to support them in their fight against discrimination. “

PvdA-PTB endorses the possible reform of the Renault law and has a bill ready to bring that reform to a successful conclusion. “If we want change, then we must continue to put pressure on the federal government. It will not be through the Arizona coalition that we are making social progress. We must continue to mobilize and ‘take them apart’ “, Boukili firmly concludes.