The management of Audi’s Forest plant announced on Tuesday that no economically viable alternative has been found for Audi Brussels. Only investors are now being sought.
No automotive project or economically viable alternative use has been found for the car plant, management said at a new extraordinary works council meeting on Tuesday morning. This was held within the framework of phase 1 of the Renault law on collective redundancies. According to Audi Brussels spokesperson Peter D’hoore, “More than twenty alternative business models were analysed as part of the information and consultation process, for example in the areas of electromobility and battery technology, but also sustainability during the life cycle and new business models along the entire value chain.“. Nothing seems viable from then on. What’s next? A resale of the infrastructure, and/or the search for investors. A lot of uncertainty, therefore.
As part of the extraordinary works council, the management of Audi Brussels agreed with the social partners to form a joint working group to explore possible alternatives in more depth. The working group will begin its analysis next week. Audi announced on 9 July its intention to restructure the Brussels plant, raising the threat of closure and the potential loss of 1,500 jobs as early as next October, followed by more than 1,100 more next year. At the request of the social partners, preparations for negotiations on a social agreement will begin on 1 October.
Restart this Tuesday
This Tuesday marked the gradual voluntary resumption of work at Audi Brussels, which had been at a standstill since 9 July and the announcement of the restructuring. In total, some 300 people were expected. At 6am, around thirty workers entered the factory. Subcontractors are blocking the main entrance, but there are six other alternative entrances, so the workers managed to get in, says Dominique Bray (CNE).
Unions estimated that 80% of the workers who were expected to arrive at the site early on Tuesday arrived safely at the factory. “Earlier, I was in front of the main entrance, the parking lot is not very big but was full. Most of the workers arrived between 5:30 and 6 a.m. since their schedule, their shift starts at 6 a.m.” reports our journalist Lise Cassoth live at 7 a.m. on bel RTL.
“I was able to talk to some of them. They explained to me that their feelings are mixed. On the one hand, they are happy to be able to return to work since they had not set foot in the factory since July 9. On the other hand, there is still this worry hanging over them. Will they keep their jobs or not?”relays our journalist.
The sheet metal and paint shops were the first to get back up and running on Tuesday. Tomorrow, the assembly, battery production and final assembly shops will follow. This represents the bulk of the company, according to Pascal Delbrulle, FGTB delegate.
This recovery will however also depend on the supply of parts by Audi Brussels subcontractors, about which the unions have no feedback, the factory management referring them to the management of these subcontractors.
A 3rd extraordinary works council (CE)
The day after the demonstration in Brussels in support of Audi Brussels workers, a 3rd extraordinary works council (CE), organised as part of phase 1 of the Renault law on collective redundancies, is planned from 10:00 to 13:00. Audi announced on 9 July its intention to restructure the Brussels plant, raising the threat of closure and the potential loss of 1,500 jobs as early as next October, followed by more than 1,100 more next year.
The unions will have the opportunity to ask further questions and hope for answers from management, particularly on alternative options for the site. “We know that there are leads for three investors or buyers. And we still don’t have any concrete information on an Asian company and its level of interest,” preface Pascal Debrulle, FGTB delegate.
Ludovic Pineur, the permanent secretary of the CNE Industry, is expecting “concrete, credible and realistic alternatives”.
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