Trade unions say they plan to take Audi Brussels to court, as tensions between the German car giant and workers continue to heat up.
The revelation follows workers’ claims that management has locked them out of the Brussels Forest factory and that they have been stopped from working so are taking legal action.
The Brussels factory has faced halted production for almost two months, after the company announced in July that it was looking into ending the production of its Q8 e-tron model series at the factory earlier than expected. Audi also said that it would be looking at restructuring the site.
The move comes as the car maker has been seeing a significant drop in demand for the Q8 e-tron model, which is electric, along with a number of ongoing structural issues with the Forest factory.
If production of the Q8 e-tron model series is stopped, the Brussels factory may be closed down, if a buyer is not found for the site. This puts 3,000 jobs at risk, with the car maker signalling 1,500 jobs may go as early as October and more than 1,100 in 2025. The remainder would go at the end of next year.
Battle hots up between management and work force
The uncertainty and potential loss of livelihood has led to a number of conflicts already between the Audi management and factory workers and trade unions.
Protests included tyres being set on fire in front of the Audi Brussels factory, as well as workers taking control of 200 keys connected with both unfinished and finished vehicles.
Although Audi Brussels’ management had revealed that they were hopeful that production should start again by Thursday, unions have dismissed this as “unrealistic” and highlighted that the return to production should be more measured.
Najar Lahouari, president of the Federation of Brabant Metalworkers (FGTB) said, as reported by The Brussels Times: “Management tell us that they are in discussion with several investors, but we have 4,000 workers here in total (which Lahouari says includes people indirectly employed by Audi’s activities in Brussels). Are the investors ready to take on 4,000 people?
“Workers are not motivated anymore. We don’t have any clue about what will happen in the future. Every day that passes, you don’t know what to say to your family. If we don’t have any solution, it will be the complete closure of the company.”
Various unions will be holding a national demonstration in Brussels next Monday, 16 September, to protest against the ongoing Audi Brussels issues.
Commenting on the present situation, AUDI AG spokesperson Wolfgang Schmid told Euronews: “After informing employees last week about the resumption of production and the current situation, the workforce and the unions decided not to resume work.
“We took note of this decision and therefore did not open the plant on Monday this week.
“As soon as the conditions for a regulated and safe production re-start are in place, we will resume production.
“A regulated re-start of the production is in the interest of all parties involved. To this end, we are currently in contact with the local social partners. In principle, we appeal to all parties involved to behave prudently. We would like to continue to maintain a constructive dialogue with the social partners.”
Restructuring plans due to falling demand
Audi Brussels CEO Volker Germann announced the potential plans in July, saying in a statement: “The announcement of the intention does not mean that a decision has been made. Nevertheless, this news has been felt very profoundly by the employees in Brussels and by me too.
“A transparent and constructive dialogue is important in the process that will follow. We will take all perspectives into account.”
Rita Beck, spokesperson for the Audi Committee in the European VW Group Works Council, also said in the statement: “The employee representatives of AUDI AG are calling for long-term prospects for the plant and our colleagues in Brussels.
“Audi management must take responsibility for the site. We hope that a viable and sustainable solution will be reached in the course of the consultation process that has now been initiated.”
