Thousands of workers have attended a march through the streets of Brussels on Monday in a demonstration to support employees of Audi Brussels and highlight the plight of the industrial sector in Belgium and Europe.
What started as a protest by the Audi Forest staff in the ongoing conflict about the future of the car factory, has sparked a much broader conversation about the prospects for industry in Europe. In Belgium, this particularly concerns the once-booming automotive sector.
Monday's march, organised by trade unions under the collective banner of FGTB-CSC-CGSLB, is a cross-sector mobilisation which aims to put job losses and failing industries across Europe in the spotlight.
Audi is just the 'tip of the iceberg'
The rumoured closure of the Audi Brussels factory "is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to rampant deindustrialisation in Europe and Belgium", warns FGTB Metal General Secretary Sor Hillal.
Unions from Belgium and across Europe are represented in Monday's demonstration, as workers call for "reindustrialisation" policies to protect and promote local industries and jobs.
The unions stress that "many big names in Belgian industry are closing in 2024", citing the situation in Audi Brussels as well as mass redundancies that came earlier this year when Belgian bus-maker Van Hool went bankrupt.
Workers arrive for an extraordinary works council at the Van Hool bus assembly plant in Koningshooikt. Credit: Belga/ Benoit Doppagne
Europe's ailing auto industry
Last week, Italian economist and ex-prime minister Mario Draghi delivered a flagship report on how to rescue Europe's economy from "existential" challenges, and boost the region's ability to compete with economic heavyweights China and the US.
The 400-page report identifies the dangers for Europe's automotive industry – "traditionally one of Europe’s industrial engines", accounting for 6.1% of total EU employment. It now is "suffering competitive gaps, both concerning cost and technology".
President of the Federation of Brabant Metalworkers (FGTB) Najar Lahouari said unions are hoping for a turnout of between 10,000 and 15,000 people on Monday.
"It’s about industry in Europe. We are losing many factories and many jobs. In Italy, in Belgium, in France, even in Germany, they are losing jobs and they are in big difficulty. It's time the European authorities take care of this and implement some measures to keep (the auto industry) in Europe," he told The Brussels Times.
Audi plans to relocate the production of the EV models currently made in Brussels to Mexico. Lahouari added that the European market has seen a "massive" influx of cars made in China. "If we don’t do something, we will wake up in ten years and realise we don’t have any more auto industry in Europe. It will be a pity."
Workers block the entrance to the Audi Brussels plant, in Vorst-Forest, Brussels, Monday 09 September 2024. Credit: Belga / Jonas Roosens
Protest is 'shooting ourselves in the foot', say employers
A number of Belgian employer organisations (Agoria, Essenscia, Fedustria, Fevia and Indufed) have warned in an open letter that Monday's demonstration will cause "tens of millions of euros in economic damage" by putting off foreign investors.
"In the storm we are currently facing, we need all hands on deck. This is not the time for protests against our companies, but rather for them. Causing tens of millions of euros in economic damage with a strike and a day of action now is shooting ourselves in the foot. It further damages our country's attractiveness on the international stage," the letter reads.
Related News
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Workers and unions plan to march from Brussels-North Station at 10:30 on Monday and head towards Luxembourg Square for speeches. Public transport operator STIB has warned of significant disruptions, as its own workers have been invited by unions to take part.
The extent of the disruptions cannot yet be predicted. STIB advises travellers to provide alternative solutions for their travel in Brussels on Monday where possible.
Meanwhile, at Audi
The day after the national day of demonstration (Tuesday 17 September), management and unions have agreed to resume car production at the Audi Brussels site.
While production is set to resume, the future of the car factory and some 3,000 jobs still hang in the balance.
Following the initial announcement in July that Audi Brussels was "restructuring" operations at the site, last week it was confirmed that the carmaker has no long-term plans to produce cars there.
For the approximately 3,000 workers, the hope is now that a buyer will be found, although there is no guarantee that a new investor would retain all jobs at the plant.
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