Audi protests lead to clash, police intervention

Relations between workers and management following the closure of Audi’s Brussels factory are further deteriorating, as a recent meeting with union representatives ended in police intervention.

Consultations were taking place on Wednesday afternoon, Bruzz reports.

The focus of the meeting was severance pay package, with management calling the union’s counter-proposal 'significantly higher' than Audi's offer, which the company said it had already improved twice.

Union secretary Jan Baetens (ACV-Metea) said the union proposal was swept off the table. In response, workers blocked the meeting room. Police were called in to manage the situation.

“Several members of the management and union representatives did not get out as angry workers blocked the doors,” a spokesperson from the Brussels-Midi police said.

“Apparently there were fears that the room where the executives and unions were sitting together would be stormed by disgruntled workers. Our teams therefore went to the scene and brought the management out unscathed.”

Before the police intervention, a union representative was slightly injured when he was hit by a projectile against the head. The man was taken to hospital for treatment.

“Apart from some pushing and pulling, no coercion was used, but the management was completely trapped,” another police source said of the mini-siege.

“Eventually, some 40 police officers created a sort of emergency exit to escort out the management. We can say with a reasonable probability bordering on certainty that if that intervention had not happened at that time, the management would really have been taken hostage.”

Audi's management condemned the workers’ protest, claiming that about 150 workers had entered the meeting room without permission. It also said that workers set off fireworks.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms all protests that result in violence against participants in the negotiations,” a statement from management reads.

“It must be in the interest of all concerned to constructively conclude the current negotiations on a joint social plan as soon as possible. This can only succeed in a non-violent and peaceful atmosphere.”

Regarding the rejected union proposal for a better severance pay package, Audi Brussels chief executive Thomas Bogus said of management’s own proposal that “we count on our social partners to recognise the quality of this fair offer and support it in the interests of the employees.”.

“We understand that this situation is not easy for all concerned,” Bogus said. “This is precisely why we appeal to everyone to remain calm and peaceful, as the majority of our employees do. We condemn violence in any form.”

Audi management said an investigation into Wednesday’s incident is currently under way.