On Tuesday morning, campaigners again blocked access to the Audi factory in Vorst. That is what the spokesperson for Audi Brussels, Peter d’Hoore. It is about displeased employees of four subcontractors of the factory. Audi Brussels announces that it will take legal action.
On Friday, employees of subcontractors had already closed the entrances to the Audi site. The factory will definitely close its doors at the end of this month, so that also with subcontractors such as Imperial Logistics and Rhenus Logistics, both employing around 400 people, all jobs will disappear. The employees there demand higher dismissal premiums.
“We have been campaigning for the factory for months now because we are not satisfied with the social plan that our employer proposes,” says Khalid Taybi, CNE-Bondsman at subcontractor Rhenus. “We will keep actions daily until we are heard.”
Around 5.15 am they blocked all the inputs of the factory, says Peter D’Hoore, spokesperson for the factory. Audi Brussels will take legal steps now that employees of suppliers of the car factory have re -blocked access to the factory. According to D’Hoore, the activists were very aggressive and caused destruction.
“Threat with violence”
They prevented – “in some cases under threat” – that employees of Audi Brussels could get started. According to the spokesperson, a number of entrance gates were forced and damaged. An information session to help Audi employees in the search for a new job could not take place.
“This situation is unacceptable for us. We condemn any form of violence and damage to property and will take further legal action, “says D’Hoore. Furthermore, the management of the factory calls on the managements and the trade unions of the suppliers involved to conclude a social plan around the table. “Audi will not intervene in this matter and do not provide any financial resources,” it sounds.
An information session about the search for a new job for Audi staff was canceled at the request of the police. Also on Friday such a session could not take place.
“Can’t accept violence”
“We are aware that the situation is also emotionally difficult for the employees of the supply companies. We understand this, “says D’Hoore. “We think it is important and precisely to come out publicly for our own opinion. However, we cannot accept violence as a form of expression. We appeal to all those involved to behave calmly and peacefully. “
At Audi Brussels itself, the management and trade unions reached an agreement on a social plan at the end of January after months of negotiations. The production of the Q8 e-tron was temporarily restarted, with only a morning team and at a lower band speed.