2024-09-09 19:12:26
A real riot is brewing at the Audi plant in Brussels. Angry workers besieged the warehouses of the German giant. About 60 employees gathered on Sunday evening at the Audi factory, where tires and wooden pallets were set on fire to block access to it.
Approximately 200 car keys were taken by staff members to prevent the ready-for-sale Audi Q8 e-Tron SUV electric crossovers from leaving the factory.
Unions are adamant that no cars will leave the factory until its future is clear.
The management of the Audi plant in Brussels demanded that the workers who lifted the car keys return them by Monday afternoon.
According to a letter sent to the unions, the company is threatening to file a lawsuit if the keys are not returned. The management of the factory claims to be able to identify the culprits with the help of CCTV footage.
The unions have discovered that management intends to send these cars, possibly to garages, forcing the protesting staff to seize the keys and store them in a safe place.
Union representative Jan Baetens (ACV-Metea) reacted with regret to management’s opposition, saying: “We took away the keys to have a peaceful social dialogue. If management wants to remove the cars now, we cannot guarantee safety or peace.”
On Wednesday, production at Audi Brussels was due to partially resume after weeks of collective leave and suspension. However, workers unanimously decided not to return to work following news that the Volkswagen Group would not commission a new model for the factory, putting the jobs of around 3,000 workers at risk.
For days, employees and suppliers of several companies have camped outside the gates of the Audi factory. They are directly affected by the factory closure, as they work almost exclusively for the Ingolstadt carmaker.
According to the company, current plant director Volker German will leave Brussels and be replaced by Thomas Bogus.
The Brussels Times writes that the company expects to produce only 7,000 units of the electric Q8 e-Tron SUV by the end of the year – with two teams of 15 cars per hour. According to media reports, the successor to the Q8 e-tron will continue to be produced in Mexico from 2027.
A protest march and mass rally by Audi employees in Brussels is planned for 10.30am on September 16 in front of Brussels-North railway station, which the union says will be expanded to include workers in the metallurgy, chemical and textile sectors. In addition to the auto workers, employees of bus manufacturer Van Hool, which was dissolved due to bankruptcy at the beginning of the year, will also lead the protest march. An extraordinary meeting of the works council is planned for the next day, at which VW Group management will allegedly share information about future investors.